The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) defines animal cruelty as acts of violence or neglect towards animals. Animal abuse encompasses various actions or inaction and can have different reasons. It is impossible to provide one explanation for all cases of animal cruelty. However, studying the distinct behavioral patterns associated with each type of abuse can help us understand the motivations behind these offenses better.
Animal cruelty can be classified as active (commission) or passive (omission). Passive cruelty, also referred to as acts of omission, includes neglect and failure to act instead of direct action. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that the terminology may be misleading because severe animal neglect can result in significant pain and distress for the animal.
If instances of neglect happen due to a lack of knowledge, investigators can choose to educate the pet owner and reevaluate the situation for any enhancements. Nevertheless, in more severe cases, urgent circumstances may demand promptly relocating the animal and providing essential medical care. Active cruelty, also known as non-accidental injury (NAI), involves intentionally harming an animal with malicious intent.
Acts of intentional cruelty are frequently among the most unsettling and should be seen as indications of severe psychological issues. Such conduct is commonly linked to sociopathic behavior and should be treated with great concern. Although both deliberate abuse and neglect can be inflicted by an individual, animal cruelty is also frequently perpetrated by larger institutions or businesses that interact with animals.
Examples of intentional cruelty and abuse towards animals include the violent training and culling methods employed by organized, large scale dog fighters. Another form of outright animal abuse is found in canned hunting preserves, with over 4,000 locations in the United States, where exotic animals are confined, often drugged, and then shot or speared by “hunters” (Pacelle 2003). On the other hand, instances of gross animal neglect can be observed in the conditions in which many animals are discovered during a bust of a mass breeding facility, also known as a “puppy mill”.
