POSITION PAPER

My issue is about the abusement to animals because I truly love animals so much
and I feel so hurt whenever someone do cruel things to animals especially to dogs. I
hate those people who abuse and hurt animals. In this topic of mine I want to make
a stand for those animals who have rights to be taken care of.
Claim 1- We should know the worth of animals
Claim 2- Animals have feelings
Claim 3- Animals have their rights to live

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
To begin discussing the history of animal cruelty is to go back literally to ancient times.
Fighting dogs for sport, for example, has been traced back as far as the 12th Century, after
the war that ensued when the Romans invaded Britain. The British, though they lost the
war, delighted in the tenacity and endurance of their dogs, and began exporting them for
use in pit fights against larger animals like wild boar and bulls. For centuries these fights
occurred across Europe until the baiting of larger animals was prohibited in 1835. At this
point, dog-on-dog combat became the cheaper, legal alternative and the fighting dogs, as
well as the taste for the brutal blood sport was exported to other countries including the
United States (Villavicencio 2007).
Cockfighting (a fight between two game roosters) has its roots deep in American history
and culture, with many of the founding fathers being fond of (and participating in) the
blood sport. It wasn’t until June of 2007 that cockfighting was made illegal in Louisiana,
the last of the 50 states to ban the activity – though the ban did not take effect until August
of 2008 (Wikipedia). Though illegal throughout the US at this point, cockfighting still
occurs with disturbing frequency across the country, particularly in the rural south and in
areas with immigrant populations in whose home countries cockfighting may still be legal
and part of the cultural norm.
Of course, animal fighting is only one of the many types of animal cruelty, and each has a
different history and timeline.
The abuse of farm animals in factory farms, for example, did not see an influx until the
early 19th century, when small family farms and traditional ranching of livestock started
to cave under the pressure of larger institutional farming practices (Bower). As factory
farms became the norm, so, unfortunately did the systematic and prolonged abuse of
animals raised for human consumption.
Most animals in these facilities are forced to endure physical and psychological abuse for
months if not years on end, deprived of the ability to perform behaviors inherent to their
species, and housed in overcrowded facilities with insufficient food, water and natural
light. Most are given steroids to enhance growth, and antibiotics to fend off illnesses that
are likely to occur in such unsanitary conditions. Their eventual slaughter is often
performed in a manner as inhumane as the condition in which they are forced to exist until
that day.
There are many people working for the improvement of the ways in which animals who
are raised for food are handled and slaughtered. Most notable is Temple Grandin. She is
one of the leading authorities on the design of animal handling facilities, specializing in
the humane handling of animals at the point of slaughter in the meat industry. She is
credited with having “done more to improve welfare for animals at the point of slaughter
than any human alive.” (The Guardian, 10/25/05)
Certified Humane offers alternatives to people who choose to eat meat, eggs, dairy and
poultry but want assurances that the animals providing these were raised and handled
humanely. Certified Humane sets stringent guidelines and conducts rigorous inspections
of businesses that raise, handle and slaughter animals for food. The Certified Humane
Animal Care Standards require that:
✓ Animals are allowed to engage in their natural behaviors.
✓ Animals are raised with sufficient space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress.
✓ Animals have access to ample fresh water and a healthy diet without added
antibiotics or hormones.
✓ Animals are sufficiently protected from the weather.
✓ Animals are provided with other necessary features that ensure their safety, health
and comfort.
✓ Managers and caretakers are thoroughly trained, skilled and competent in animal
husbandry and welfare.
✓ Managers and caretakers have good working knowledge of their system and the
livestock in their care (ASPCA).
The birth of the Internet opened the door for new types of animal abuse to emerge. Among
the images of animal cruelty that are available on the Internet are “crush videos” in which
well dressed women are shown crushing small animals with their bare feet or stiletto heels.
These videos are able to infiltrate mainstream audiences because of increased file sharing
networks and the growing popularity of websites that display violent videos for their shock
value (Pet-Abuse.com). Though illegal under the 1999 federal legislation later nicknamed
“The Crush Act,” it is often very difficult to prosecute the offenders of these crimes, as
they are usually able to hide behind the anonymity offered by the virtual world.

Addition, Animal Abuse or cruelty to animals is the infliction by omission (animal

neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-human. More
narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievement, such as
killing animals for food or for their fur; opinions differ about the extent of cruelty
associated with a given method of slaughter. Cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses
inflicting harm or suffering as an end in itself, defined as zoosadism.
Divergent approaches to laws concerning animal cruelty occur in different jurisdictions
throughout the world. For example, some laws govern methods of killing animals for food,
clothing, or other products, and other laws concern the keeping of animals for
entertainment, education, research, or pets. There are a number of conceptual approaches
to the issue of cruelty to animals.
For example, the animal welfare position holds that there is nothing inherently wrong with
using animals for human purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but
that it should be done in a way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering, sometimes
referred to as "humane" treatment.
Utilitarian advocates argue from the position of costs and benefits and vary in their
conclusions as to the allowable treatment of animals. Some utilitarians argue for a weaker
approach which is closer to the animal welfare position, whereas others argue for a position
that is similar to animal rights. Animal rights theorists criticize these positions, arguing that
the words "unnecessary" and "humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations, and
that animals have basic rights. They say that the only way to ensure protection for animals
is to end their status as property and to ensure that they are never used as commodities.
Throughout history individuals have condemned various practices that they considered to
be cruel to animals. Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, for example, was troubled
by the sight of birds in captivity, and (according to biographer Giorgio Vasari) once
purchased caged birds in order to set them free. He also expressed anger within his
notebooks with the fact that humans use their strength and power to raise animals for
slaughter.
René Descartes, contrarily believed that non-humans are automata, complex machines
with no soul, mind, or reason. In Cartesian dualism, consciousness was unique to human
among all other animals and linked to physical matter by divine grace. However, close
analysis shows that many human features such as complex sign usage, tool use, and self-
consciousness can be found in some animals.
Charles Darwin, by presenting the theory of evolution, revolutionized the way that
humans viewed their relationship with other species. Darwin believed that not only did
human beings have a direct kinship with other animals, but the latter had social, mental and
moral lives too. Later, in The Descent of Man (1871), he wrote: "There is no fundamental
difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental faculties.”
Some philosophers and intellectuals, such as Peter Singer and Tom Regan, have argued
that animals' ability to feel pain as humans do makes their well-being worthy of equal
consideration. There are many precursors of this train of thought. Jeremy Bentham, the
founder of utilitarianism, famously wrote in his An Introduction to the Principles of Morals
and Legislation (1789):
"The question is not, can they reason nor can they talk? but, can they suffer?"
These arguments have prompted some to suggest that animals' well-being should enter a
social welfare function directly, not just indirectly via its effect only on human well-being.
In one survey of United States homeowners, 68% of respondents said they actually
consider the price of meat a more important issue.

INTRODUCTION OF THE ISSUE

Every day in countries around the world, animals are fighting for their lives. They are
enslaved, beaten, and kept in chains to make them perform for humans’ “entertainment”;
they are mutilated and confined to tiny cages so that we can kill them and eat them; they
are burned, blinded, poisoned, and cut up alive in the name of “science”; they are
electrocuted, strangled, and skinned alive so that people can parade around in their coats.
There are many different reasons why individuals abuse animals. Animal cruelty covers a
wide range of actions (or lack of action), so one blanket answer simply isn’t possible. Each
type of abuse has displayed certain patterns of behavior that we can use to help understand
more about why people commit the crimes we encounter today.
One of the first steps in protecting animals and creating effective cruelty laws is knowing
what animal cruelty actually is. There are two categories: passive cruelty and active cruelty.
The first -involves acts of omission, meaning the abuse happens as a result of neglect or
lack of action.
Passive cruelty might seem less serious, but that is not the case; it can lead to terrible pain
and suffering, and ultimately death. Examples include starvation, dehydration, untreated
parasite infestations, inadequate shelter in extreme weather conditions, and the failure to
get medical care. Passive cruelty is sometimes due to the owner's ignorance, so many
animal control officers will first try to educate neglectful owners on how to properly care
for animals before giving them a citation or placing them under arrest.
Active cruelty, on the other hand, is more well-known and disturbing. Sometimes referred
to as non-accidental injury, this type of abuse involves purposefully inflicting harm on an
animal in order to feel more powerful or gain control. Active cruelty against animals should
be taken very seriously, since it can be a sign that a person has serious psychological issues
and may commit more acts of violence – possibly against humans.
It is hard to tell just what drives people to harm innocent animals. “According to a 1997
study done by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and
Northeastern University, animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent
crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are
individuals without a history of animal abuse,” says Pet-abuse.com. It is vital to report
people who hurt animals. Most animal abusers find some sort of fulfillment or power in
torturing a victim they know can't fight back, which is why crimes like rape and child
molestation are committed. While not all animal abusers become serial killers or rapists, it
is important to take every case seriously.
In United States, animals are beaten, neglected, or forced to struggle for survival. Left in
unsanitary conditions with no food or water, they have little hope as they live out their days
without the compassion they deserve. Some are found and rescued, given the chance to
experience how great life and humans can be; others aren't so lucky. To grow as a nation,
we must fight for these abused animals' rights and severely punish heartless owners.
It is up to us to speak for these creatures who lack a voice, for who will if we don't?
My position for these is to STOP ABUSING ANIMALS! Can you imagine
yourself being abused by someone you trust and who is supposed to love you, and to make
the situation worse, you can’t use your voice to cry out for help? Animal abuse is a very
serious matter and it happens all over the world. Nobody really knows why animal cruelty
happens. Maybe people hurt animals to get their anger out; maybe they do abuse to look
cool. Sometimes it is simply that people do not understand that what they are doing to an
animal is causing the animal pain. Other times, people who have been abused themselves
will be cruel to animals because they think that is the only way to treat others. The worst
cruelty situations are when people hurt animals knowing that it hurts the animal, and they
do it to cause the animal pain. It is hard to say why someone would do this, but often they
see the animals as objects instead of creatures with feelings. Whatever the reason, no
animal should ever be hit, kicked or in any way harmed by a person. Animals are
different from people because they don’t have a voice to cry out for help and they
can’t protect themselves or fight back. These animals are depending on us to become
more aware and proactive. The abuse of animals is a broad subject which includes various
subtopics such as, laws against it, cases that are on file, people who do it, and organizations
trying to help. Animal cruelty is a disturbing matter that affects everyone.

THESIS STATEMENT
I think that animal abuse is a very serious topic and it is important to raise awareness in our
communities so that people may be more empowered to offer help! While researching this
topic, I learned about all of the horrible things that people do to animals. I read cases related
to both domestic abuse as well as the neglect of animals by the food industry. Each case
made me realize that animals are victims and they are helpless. Animals feel pain and
sadness; just like humans they do not understand what they have done to deserve
such treatment. Imagine a trained fighter trying to have a match against a newborn baby.
The baby stands no chance against the professional who has knowledge, strength and
speed. The idea of this occurring is both disturbing and sickening, but it is similar to animal
abuse. This topic has a huge impact on me because I have a dog and I would do anything
to keep him safe. Whenever I see a video in Facebook of abusing cats and especially dogs,
my heart breaks for the cats and dogs who have suffered at the hands of their owners, and
I want to help them. No matter how hard I try, I cannot comprehend how people can hurt
innocent animals. The most upsetting thing about my topic is the understanding that people
have the power over animals, but too often they choose to abuse that power. Thankfully,
there are ways that we can change this awful problem. One thing that anyone can do is to
report abuse and speak directly to an abuser. Stepping in allows you to be the voice for
someone who cannot speak for themself. The important thing to remember is that we
can make a difference for animals. Animals are counting on compassionate people like
you to give them a voice and be their heroes by learning about the issues they face and
taking action. Each of us has the power to save animals from nightmarish suffering-and
best of all, it’s easier than you might think. If you’re ready to join the millions of other
compassionate people who are working to create a kinder, better world for animals, please
read on to learn how animals suffer in the food, animal experimentation, entertainment,
clothing and pet-trade industries. Together, we can make a difference.
The simplest action is for people to take care of their own pets and learn the facts, so
they can educate others on proper animal care. Another easy way to help is by donating to
or volunteering at a local animal shelter. Contrary to popular belief, volunteering doesn't
require a lot of time; simply going in a few hours a week helps tremendously. Finally, by
writing letters you can remind your local lawmakers that animal abuse is a real problem
that needs to be addressed. Taking a few minutes to support this worthy cause not only
helps animals, it allows you to feel proud about standing up for something so important to
society. And always remember that it is our job to be the voice for creatures
who cannot speak up for themselves. As a nation we need to make it our priority
to come together and ensure the safety of our beloved pets.

SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruelty_to_animals
https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/animal-cruelty
http://animalcrueltyandabuseinfo.weebly.com/
https://wildlife-rescue.org/services/advocacy/animal-abuse/
https://www.peta.org/issues/