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Animal Cruelty Fact Sheet

What Constitutes Animal Cruelty?

• Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals are considered animal cruelty.  
• Examples include overt abuse, dog fighting and cock fighting, and companion animals being neglected or denied basic necessities of care, such as food, water, or shelter.  
• Animal welfare organizations across the country work daily to educate people about how to care for their companion animals and how they can prevent animal cruelty.
• Many people who witness, or hear about animal cruelty are not aware that legal action can be taken to help stop the problem.  
• Companion animals are primarily covered by state animal cruelty laws, which vary from state to state and county to county.  
• These laws may be confusing to people who want to help animals in distress but are not clear on what constitutes animal cruelty.

Generally, animal cruelty can be divided into two categories:  

Neglect and Intentional Cruelty (or Abuse)

Neglect is the failure to provide an animal with the most basic of requirements of food, water, shelter and veterinary care.  Neglect is often the result of ignorance on the animal's owner's part and is usually handled by requiring the owner to correct the situation in question.  If the problem is not corrected, the animal may be removed from the neglectful person by law enforcement authorities.  In some cases, the owner will simply turn the animal over to authorities because they no longer want the animal or can no longer care for it properly.

Intentional Cruelty (Abuse) is often more shocking and usually an indicator of a serious human behavior problem.  Intentional cruelty is when an individual purposely inflicts physically harm or injury on an animal.  The ASPCA and other organizations with cruelty investigation authority have arrested many individuals, who have deliberately maimed, tortured or even killed animals.  Although many individuals are arrested for intentional cruelty, people who commit even the most heinous crimes against animals are often not prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  In states where animal cruelty is considered a misdemeanor, individuals who commit intentional cruelty against animals can receive, at most, one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.  Often perpetrators receive no more than probation.  Someone who is violent toward animals may be violent towards family members or other people.

How you can help:

• If you witness or hear about animal cruelty taking place, report it to your local humane society and call your local police.  
• Voice your concerns to political leaders and take an active part in helping pass legislation to protect animals.  
• Teaching future generations to respect animal life will make our society more humane.  
• Encourage schools in your community to make humane education part of their curriculum.  
• If you want to adopt a pet, go to a shelter first.  
• If you own a pet, be responsible and provide it with annual veterinary check-ups and preventative medical care.  
• Spay or neuter your cat or dog to help reduce pet overpopulation and urge your friends and neighbors to do the same.  
• Support you local animal rescue organization or shelter with donations of money, pet food, or supplies.  
• Volunteering your time or fostering a shelter animal is a good way to make a difference.  
• Fostering helps socialize abused or frightened animals before they are adopted.

Grainger County Humane Society

P.O. Box 229

Rutledge, TN 37861

(865) 567-0050

graingerhumane@hughes.net

WebSite Designed and Maintained By GCHS Volunteer August 2008