CONGRESS NOW TAKING FURTHER ACTION AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY
/Congress now taking further action against animal cruelty
By Robert Foreman
Cruelty to animals often tends to illicit a strong reaction in people, regardless of race, creed or political affiliation. As such, there have been calls to impose stricter punishments on those who abuse animals. Finally, it appears that the politicians in Washington are heeding the pleas from their constituents and are taking more action. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, which would make certain types of animal cruelty a federal crime. A companion piece to PACT was introduced in the Senate and is now awaiting passage.
The bi-partisan bill is an expansion of the 2010 Animal Crushing Prohibition Act, which made it illegal to create or distribute ‘animal crushing’ videos. ‘Animal crushing’ is the brutal torture of animals, often puppies, kittens, mice and bunnies, in videos that often feature women crushing the animals in their high heels. According to CARE (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth), the videos may also include a puppy being burned alive or a cat being nailed to the floor. To be a blunt, anyone who enjoys those types of videos is a heartless bastard, mentally unstable or a combination of both.
Animal abuse crosses all barriers of race, gender and economic status, which only shows how pervasive it is throughout the country. According to The Humane Society, there is a strong connection between animal cruelty and violence against people. In one survey that was conducted, 71 percent of domestic violence victims noted that the person abusing them was also targeting their pets. Another study discovered that in 88 percent of the case where families were being investigated for physically abusing their children that the parents/caregivers were also abusing the pets.
While animal cruelty impacts various species, the most common targets are cats, dogs, horses and livestock. Numerous undercover investigations have helped to shine a light on the rampant abuse that occurs on factory farms in which livestock, such as chickens, cattle and pigs, are raised in confined and often cruel conditions. These factory farms can create health hazards due to the fact that they produce millions of gallons of manure that can create harmful air pollutants that can hurt human beings. Additionally, the overcrowded conditions make it easier for diseases to spread that can impact our food supply. Yet despite all of this, The Humane Society notes that due to the weak legal protections afforded to livestock that few people are ever prosecuted for the abuse.
Animal abuse, such as dogfighting and cockfighting, can often be associated with other crimes that can include public corruption, drug trafficking and murder. There have been documented cases in which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has prosecuted drug cartels for using dogfights and cockfighting to run their drugs. Additionally, there have been multiple instances of people getting killed during dogfighting and cockfighting matches in fights over money. Finally, there have been instances of public figures being implicated and/or arrested for taking part in these activities. The most famous, or most infamous, of them being former NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
In 2007, Vick, along with three other men, were indicted on both state and federal charges after a search of his property in Virginia uncovered evidence of a dogfighting ring. Ultimately, over 70 dogs were rescued from his property and evidence of gambling and brutal dog executions would be revealed. Vick eventually took a plea deal for his role in funding and participating in the dogfighting ring and would serve 21 months in prison. After being release from prison, Vick resumed his NFL career to the horror of many who believed that he should have been banned from the league for life. Now retired, Vick still remains one of the public faces of animal cruelty. This is due in part to what many believe is his genuine lack of real remorse for his crimes, so it is a stigma he deserves to carry.
However, the one positive thing that came out of the Vick ordeal is that it placed a very public spotlight on animal cruelty. Many of us were forced to see that animal abuse was far more widespread that we could have imagined. As a result, it seemed as if the public’s focus has shifted to the plight of the animals that are not able to tell us about the horrors that they have endured. Sadly, despite the public spotlight the statistics on animal abuse are staggering. The website DoSomething.org notes that 50 percent of the fur in the U.S. comes from China where millions of dogs and cats are skinned alive for their fur.
Additionally, the organization estimates that there are between 900 to 2,000 new cases of animal hoarding in the U.S. involving upwards to 250,000 animals. They note that over 115 million dogs, cats, mice, rabbits and other animals are killed in laboratory experiments around the world during food, chemical, cosmetic and drug tests. Finally, they added that every major circus that uses animals in their shows has been cited for violating the basic standards of care that were established by the United States Animal Welfare (AWA).
Knowing the levels of cruelty that animals are forced to endure, and the connection that it has to other forms of abuse and crime, makes the news that Congress is attempting to address the issue even more welcome. Of course, it is all too easy for people who do not own pets, or those who don’t spend a significant amount of time around animals, to close their eyes to animal cruelty. Yet, pretending that it doesn’t happen isn’t going to make the problem go away. Animal abuse of any kind should be taken seriously and reported to law enforcement immediately. Simply put, it is illegal and inhumane. Those who participate in it should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period.
