Interludes of cruelty to animals are not insignificant indications of a minor personality flaw in the abuser; they are indicatives of a profound mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology reveals that people who perpetrate acts of cruelty to animals don’t cease there—many of them move on to their fellow humans.
“Murderers … very often start by killing and torturing animals as kids,” says Robert K. Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Animal cruelty can take many different forms, as you’ll discover below, but the impact is always the same. A sentient animal capable of love and creating social relationships experience pain, fear, and desperation. And it needs to stop.
We breathe in a world that not only turns a blind eye to animal cruelty but pardons it — whether through indifference or legislation. It’s legal to raise chickens in deplorable conditions for the sole purpose of slaughtering them later.
If that isn’t animal cruelty, then what is?
So let's start by breaking the issue:
What is animal cruelty?
Animal cruelty encompasses a spectrum of behaviours injurious to animals, from neglect to malicious slaughter. Most cruelty investigated by humane officers is unintentional neglect that can be resolved through education.
Intentional cruelty can run the gamut from knowingly depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, socialization or veterinary care to maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating or killing an animal.
Who abuses animals?
Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas.
Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.
Hoarding behaviour often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they are able to adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect (such as hoarding) is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services.
Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60
Some examples of animal cruelty:
A 40 year old elephant died after a villager had reportedly thrown a burning piece of tyre to chase away the elephant. The burning tyre got stuck on the elephant’s ear, forcing it to run away in distress. The incident, which took place in Masinagudi, Tamil Nadu was captured on video. Forest rangers had later found the elephant with severe burn injuries on the back and ear. Unfortunately, the animal died while being transported to a camp for medical treatment.
It has been established that not only do animals have rich emotional lives; they also display signs of morality. Chimpanzees, for instance, mentally note favours and repay them; and an elephant’s sense of compassion can extend to creatures beyond their own kind. This gives the question of animal cruelty a new dimension.
A pregnant goat was gangraped by 8 men in Haryana.
29 July, 2018, According to reports, a pregnant goat that went missing and was later found dead by the owner was stolen and abused by the accused at a deserted house, following which the animal died. One of the accused even met the owner of the goat and admitted that he had raped her and said that he had a “nice time”.
Eleven langurs were brutally killed and dumped near a highway in Rajasthan.
12 January, 2018: Eleven monkeys were found killed near the National Highway-8, about 66 km from Jaipur, in Rajasthan. Forest officials said they were beaten with sticks and then splashed with an abrasive chemical, probably an acid
Mahatma Gandhi said,
‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’
To ensure that they are treated better, relevant government agencies need to work in tandem with animal welfare organizations to raise awareness on the issue and arm the ordinary citizenry with ways and means of countering instances of animal cruelty that they happen to encounter.
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Writer - Hrishita Dev
Editor - Priyam Kusundal
Illustrator - Ishika Chakraborty
Graphics - Hafsa Gaballa
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