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| HI!! My name is Patches. (That's the cute picture of me above.) My "mom" is the owner of Furry Friends and More and has asked me to help educate you on different topics each month. Feel free to e-mail us any questions you may have regarding Pet Sitting or any of the contents I am commenting on. We also would appreciate any special topics that may be of interest to you.
Animal Cruelty Fact Sheet Animal cruelty needs to be taken seriously. It is not only a crime in itself, but an indication of other violence past, present, and future.What Constitutes Animal Cruelty? Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals are considered animal cruelty. Examples include overt animal abuse, dog and cock fighting and companion animal neglect where the animal is denied basic necessities of care such as fresh water and food or shelter. Many people who witness or hear about 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. Animal welfare organizations across the country work daily to educate people about the proper care of animals and how to prevent animal cruelty. Animal cruelty can be divided into two general categories: neglect and intentional cruelty. Neglect - Neglect is the failure to provide an animal with the most basic of requirements of food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
- Neglect may be due to ignorance on the animal owner's part and is usually handled by requiring the owner to correct the situation. If the problem is not corrected, the animal may be removed from the neglectful person by law enforcement authorities.
Intentional Cruelty - Intentional cruelty is often more shocking than neglect and is frequently an indicator of a serious human behavior problem.
- Intentional cruelty is when an individual purposely inflicts physical harm or injury on an animal. (The ASPCA and other organizations with cruelty investigation authority have arrested 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 crimes 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 towards animals may be violent towards family members or others.
Animal Cruelty Laws (State-to-state) - 33 states and the District of Columbia currently have laws that make intentional cruelty a felony charge, while the remaining states treat animal cruelty as a misdemeanor.
- Many animal cruelty laws specifically exclude accepted animal husbandry practices involving farm animals, animals used in research, and lawful hunting and trapping of wildlife.
- Many states now require the person convicted of cruelty to undergo psychological evaluation and counseling, in addition to paying a fine or serving a prison sentence.
- An increasing number of states are instituting cross training and reporting programs that involve social service workers who are likely to see cases of animal abuse during the course of their work in domestic violence and child abuse cases.
- A number of states provide civil and criminal immunity to veterinarians who report suspected cases of animal abuse to law enforcement authorities, as veterinarians are likely to be the first to come in contact with an abused animal.
- Enforcement of animal cruelty laws can be carried out by local police or by humane or municipal agencies that are granted power from the state or local government.
Advice From the ASPCA - If you witness or hear about animal cruelty taking place, report it to your local humane organization or call your local police.
- Learn about animal-friendly legislation pending in your state from the ASPCA's Government Affairs & Public Policy department. Visit the ASPCA at www.aspca.org and follow the "Lobby for Animal Welfare" link.
- Become a member of the ASPCA Legislative Action Team and take an active part in passing legislation. E-mail all inquiries to government@aspca.org or call the Government Affairs & Public Policy department at 212/ 876-7700 ext. 4550.
- Teaching future generations to respect animal life will make our society more humane. Make sure schools in your town include humane education as part of their curriculum. E-mail the ASPCA at education@aspca.org for classroom resources.
- If you want to adopt a pet, go to your local shelter first. To search the Internet for animals available for adoption, visit the ASPCA's online adoption partner PetFinder.com at www.petfinder.com.
- 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 reduce pet overpopulation and urge your friends to do the same.
- Support your local animal rescue organization or shelter with donations of money, 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.
- www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/domestic-violence-and-animal-cruelty.html for information on the connection of domestic violence and animal cruelty.
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| Don't neglect mats on your pets. Dogs, and yes even cats and rabbits, need regular brushing. Ignoring mats can cause skin problems to occur underneath, where trapped moisture breeds bacteria and provides a perfect resident for bugs. During warmer weather flies can even lay eggs in eroded areas beneath a mat, with maggot infestation the possible result. In snowy weather theice and snow will cause moisture and infection to develop near the skin. Mats can also cause wounds as the hair continues to mat closer to the skin. Imagine yourself with a pony tail that keeps getting pulled tighter and tighter to your scalp. Mats are not only unhealthy for your pet but painful, as well. If mats get to be too bad a groomer may have to use a surgical blade to remove the mats and risk hurting your pet. ***************************************************************** Enter H.R. 3501: the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter. The proposed legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $3,500 per year for the expenses of legally owned pets. Best of all, it includes veterinary expenses. According to the proposal, there are two major factors to justify the bill. First, the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey states that 63 percent of US households own a pet. In addition, they acknowledge the positive impact that the human-animal bond has upon people's well-being, both emotional and physical. If passed, the legislation would be effective beginning in the tax year 2010. Do you want to show your support for this bill and help it get passed? Click this link to write to your U.S. representative and ask him or her to support and cosponser the HAPPY Act. https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2605 H.R.3501  Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act - Introduced: July 30, 2009
- Status: Introduced
- Next step: House Passes
- Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Sponsor: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11]
< | | Support our troops!!! Many of our troops are deployed overseas and often have to surrender their pets to shelters. How awful that must be! While they protect our freedoms they are not only moving to and fighting in strange countries, but when they return home their pet companions are no longer waiting for them. Learn how to be a foster for our military pet parents at http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/ and https://www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php *************************************** PETS AND OCD........ Licking, chewing, spinning, tail-chasing and running after shadows or beams of light can be normal behaviors in dogs and cats, but in some cases they become repetitive and harmful, stressing not only the dogs or cats involved but also the people who live with them. When normal behaviors become repetitive or sustained and don’t seem to make any sense, a dog or cat is often diagnosed with compulsive disorder. These behaviors can become so extreme that they affect the animal’s well-being. Some dogs become so focused on the behavior that they stop eating. Cats that suck or chew on wool and other fabric can move on to swallowing it, causing dangerous obstructions. Ruling out a medical cause is the first step in a diagnosis. Once it’s clear that a behavior is truly compulsive, behavior modification and sometimes anti-anxiety medication can help. Your veterinarian may refer you to an animal behaviorist to help figure out what steps to take in helping your pet overcome OCD behaviors. | |
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PLEASE spay and neuter your pets!!! Patches can't stress this enough. "I have so many furry friends that cannot find homes and end up euthanized or abused", states Patches. "Let's help control the pet population and help shelter pets end up in healthy, happy homes instead of cramped up shelters and cages". If you know of pet abuse please report it to the proper authorities or get my "mom" involved and she will call for you. We also advocate adopting pets from shelters. Even if you don't want a "mutt" there are many pure bred dogs and cats that have been given up due to the increase in home foreclosures. If you are looking for a particular breed there are many specific rescue groups out there. Contact us if you need help or guidance in finding the right pet for you. Look for future updates on my pointers. Mews to all, Patches | |
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