Twelve million stray dogs and cats roamed the country in 2019, according to the Philippines Animal
Welfare Society

 The Philippines slaughters around 10.2 land-based animals per person / year, which is slightly higher
than the global average of 9.7. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has filed charges against
five Manila City Pound officials for alleged animal cruelty

Animal cruelty a form of abuse which is all about power and control over a helpless victim. Animal
cruelty involves gratuitously inflicting harm, injuring, or killing an animal. The cruelty can be intentional,
such as kicking, burning, stabbing, beating, or shooting; or it can involve neglect, such as depriving an
animal of water, shelter, food, and necessary medical treatment. Animal fighting, in which animals are
trained or forced to attack each other in violent confrontations at the risk of grave injury or death, is
another form of animal cruelty.

By taking action against animal cruelty, we protect animals and may uncover and perhaps prevent
additional crimes.

Animal cruelty encompasses a range of behaviors harmful to animals, from neglect to malicious killing

Animal cruelty involves gratuitously inflicting harm, injuring, or killing an animal. The cruelty can be
intentional, such as kicking, burning, stabbing, beating, or shooting; or it can involve neglect, such as
depriving an animal of water, shelter, food, and necessary medical treatment. Animal fighting, in which
animals are trained or forced to attack each other in violent confrontations at the risk of grave injury or
death, is another form of animal cruelty.

 acts of animal cruelty are the result of ignorance about humane and proper care of animals or impulsive
actions stemming from unmanaged emotions. Animal cruelty may also be very deliberate, planned and
goal directed such as in domestic violence situations where the abuser may be harming an animal
to intimidate, terrorize and/or coerce a victim and/or for retaliatory acts towards a victim. Sadistic
individuals derive pleasure from causing and observing other living creatures experience pain. In other
instances, the abuse may be less intentional and influenced more by the diminished mental state of the
individuals such as hoarders, whose perception of their environment and behaviors is extremely
distorted. When individuals diminish or deny or fail to recognize the sentient capacities of animals, the
likelihood of abuse is increased.

There can be many reasons. Animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a
person who feels powerless, unnoticed or under the control of others. The motive may be to shock,
threaten, intimidate, or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society's rules. Some who are cruel
to animals’ copy acts they have seen or that have been done to them. Others see harming an animal as a
safe way to get revenge against—or threaten—someone who cares about that animal
Violence against animals has been linked to a higher likelihood of criminal violence and domestic abuse.
According to humane society of the United States

What Is the Impact of Animal Cruelty?

Animals feel pain and fear like we do, but they are often helpless victims because they can’t say what
happened to them. In fact, some people choose to abuse animals instead of people for this very reason!
If we wish to create a humane society, we must stop cruelty against those who are most vulnerable-like
animals.

Cruelty toward animals does more than cause other living, feeling beings to experience pain and fear—
violence toward animals can be an indicator that people are also in danger. Someone who commits
animal abuse may have serious psychological problems. Studies have found that many people convicted
of violent crimes had a history of animal cruelty. Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, David
“Son of Sam” Berkowitz, and Albert “Boston Strangler” DeSalvo were cruel to animals before they
started hurting people. Adults are not the only ones whose cruelty to animals can be a sign of deeper
troubles.  

Animal abuse has a strong connection to domestic violence. Victim’s dogs and cats are often used by
abusers as pawns to manipulate and control them. In an abusive home, a companion animal may serve
as a lone confidant for an abused woman or child and, by abusing the animal, an abuser takes advantage
of the victim’s concern for his or her animal. Abusers may threaten or abuse animals in front of children
and partners to keep them from reporting abuse or leaving. By hurting the animals, an abuser is sending
the message that a human victim could be next. According to
https://www.wihumane.org/advocacy/laws/animal-abuse-violence

There are obvious physical effects of abuse, including wounds, broken bones, and physical inactivity due
to pain or depression. Most animal cruelty laws only tackle the immediate physical harm that abused
animals suffer, because it's hard to see or measure the emotional and mental repercussions.

But while physical effects are relatively short-term issues, resulting mental effects can cause higher
degrees of pain and suffering, with the damage lasting a lot longer. In fact, a multitude of studies have
shown that emotional and mental harm is even more excruciating than physical hurt, and when animals
are forced to choose, they would rather endure physical pain.

71-83%

OF ABUSE CASES

Also affect animals; women entering domestic violence shelters report that their partners hurt or killed
the family pet.

Severe animal cruelty cases more than double in 2020, Seattle Animal Shelter says
Therefore, animal cruelty is a nationwide issue because it doesn’t simply mean the mistreatment of pets
but also animals being used for experimentation, food, clothing and may more things. The overall major
effect of the community problem is the continuous cycle of animal abuse. It concluded that animal
abuse is not the only problem but the way an individual is raised is a big problem to. This is a cycle
usually begins with the younger kids if they were exposed to any kind of abuse such as verbal or physical
abuse which is more likely to cause post-traumatic stress disorder. So, they continue the cycle
themselves by abusing animals or others, since in their mentality it’s the correct way to express their
angered feelings, in such a way that is not okay.

10 TIPS TO PREVENT CRUELTY

TO ANIMALS
 Be a responsible pet owner. Know about and fulfil the needs of
your pet. Don’t just concern yourself with basic needs – give your
pet positive experiences that really enhance its well-being.
1. Be an example of kindness to other pets. Foster a pet that has
suffered abandonment. Sadly, many pets are relinquished to
shelters for various reasons. Foster homes help these animals to
recover and prepare them to move onto a new permanent loving
home.
2. Intervene if you witness animal cruelty, abuse or neglect. Do
what you can to stop someone from mistreating an animal.
However, be sensible and don’t put yourself in danger. If
necessary, seek help from other witnesses.
3. Report animal cruelty, abuse or neglect. If you witness any form
of animal cruelty, report it to the police or other authorities. Act
immediately to prevent further cruelty.
4. Teach your children to have respect for animals. Set a good
example by being respectful towards animals. Show children
how to treat animals with love and consideration. Help them to
grow up to become the next generation of advocates for animals.
 5. Demand stricter laws for the protection of animals. Stronger
animal welfare laws and harsher penalties will lead to fewer
cruelty cases.
6. Shelter an animal in need. You can be the helping hand that an
animal need. An animal that has been mistreated needs support,
sometimes immediately. You can make a real difference by
taking an animal out of a harmful situation.
7. Consider that neglect of animals can be closely linked
to domestic violence. Animal abuse and domestic abuse are
often closely connected. By reporting your suspicions, you may
also be helping both the animal in need and the family
concerned. See also “The link between cruelty to animals and
violence to humans”.
8. Educate people around you about the issue. Help people to
understand that they can intervene in situations where animals
are being neglected or even tormented. Animals have a right to
live without fear or pain, and we have a responsibility to step in if
their rights aren’t respected.
9. Offer help to people who are overwhelmed with their animal.
Animals aren’t necessarily neglected out of a lack of love. An
owner may not have the psychological resources to provide an
animal with the appropriate care. Whatever the reasons may be,
an affected pet must be removed from a place of neglect and
given the care it needs to live and thrive. Any help you give to an
animal may help a human too.

There is a various way to prevent animal cruelty. Pet owner should be responsible, know and fulfill the
needs of owned pet. Be an example of kindness to other pets. Foster a pet that has suffered
abandonment, help these animals to recover and prepare them to move onto a new permanent loving
home. Intervene if you witness animal cruelty, abuse or neglect. Do what you can to stop someone from
mistreating an animal. Report animal cruelty, abuse or neglect. If you witness any form of animal
cruelty, report it to the police or other authorities. Teach your children to have respect for animals. Set a
good example by being respectful towards animals. Show children how to treat animals with love and
consideration. Demand stricter laws for the protection of animals. Stronger animal welfare laws and
harsher penalties will lead to fewer cruelty cases.
Shelter an animal in need. You can be the helping hand that an animal need. Consider that neglect of
animals can be closely linked to domestic violence. Animal abuse and domestic abuse are often closely
connected. Educate people around you about the issue. Offer help to people who are overwhelmed with
their animal.