PEOPLE who abuse animals do not stop with animals. They progress to abusing humans and there is an established link; hence, it is often referred to as “the link”.
The link makes it critically important to realise that animal cruelty must be taken very seriously by the police and animal welfare departments and groups and by society at large! This is for the sake and protection of the animal and for the people at risk!
Research has shown ample proof that there is a link between animal cruelty and violence towards humans. This includes child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and other violent behaviour
A landmark research study conducted in 1997 in Massachusetts, USA, by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) showed that animal abusers are five times more likely to abuse humans too. Animal abusers are generally cruel to cats and dogs.
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Animal abuse is generally related to domestic violence and is what they would call a Predictor Crime” as is very often the case, meaning the abuser will progress from animal abuse to human abuse!
If a child is cruel to animals, research shows that the child has likely either been seriously abused or neglected and it is likely that children who witness animal abuse become abusers themselves over time.
A 2017 study has shown that women who owned a pet during an abusive relationship with a human will likely report that their pet was often harmed, threatened, abused or killed by the human abuser!The laws must go hand in hand for if an human abuser is just fined, it will not help to teach the abuser a lesson. Laws must be enforced strictly to protect both animals and victims of abuse and to punish the abuser, not the abused or the animal.
Asians, sad to say, are not very fond of helping for fear of repercussions, but ask yourself what if you were in that same Position? Would you not appreciate help?
Would you not want help? The animal is in no position to call for help and it will just suffer the cruelty inflicted on it by the abuser and cry and Yelp in pain to no avail, all because the people who know about it do not want to help or get involved! Remember, an animal is voiceless and cannot speak for itself!
Well, thankfully, our society is moving forward, and animal cruelty case are being reported. To ensure the abuser is convicted, try to take a clear video or photo of the act and person/S involved and give it to the local police, Animal Dept (ie Jabatan Haiwan) or a Local Animal NGO and get their help and advice without delay.
Please do not forget the animals are voiceless and will depend on the human for everything and if you can make a better life for it please do so. The informer will remain anonymous in the report!
Animal neglect is usually associated with human neglect involving a child, an elder or another.
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Cruelty includes illegal breeding, hoarding ie keeping so many pets until the owner cannot cope and/or look after them as they should be, puppy mills where it’s all about the money, and of course abusing dogs and cats.
For emergency situations where u fear for the animal/victims life and/or safety, call Jabatan Haiwan, the police or an animal NGO.
If you feel the animal is being neglected (ie not well fed or looked after), you may offer to look after the animal or even help to rehome it as very often people own dogs/cats for various reasons ie as a guard dog and when it’s use has expired, the poor dog is neglected etc.
However, if the owner is not approachable and u suspect the animal is being abused, then it is advisable to approach law enforcement authorities but pls try to have a clear photo or video as solid proof of the abuse.
This will be very useful in convicting the abuser.
If the authorities do not respond as they should and the animal is still suffering, then do consider the help of the local newspapers, radio etc to Publicise the situation.
In Malaysia under the Animal Welfare Enactment a convicted abuser can be jailed several years or fined up to RM100,000 or both.
Remember: Because you intervened you have saved the life of an abused animal
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If u do not take action the abuser will keep on abusing the animal who can only suffer and keep on suffering in silence, till help comes along.
Contact persons to report an abuse case: Jabatan Haiwan (088-251235), police (make a report at police station nearest to you), Fair via WhatsApp only (012-688-382, 016-842-95595, 016-835-8899), Heart, BAWSS (019-535-5558), Alir (013-888-5060) or SPCA (019-880-9660).
All calls will be anonymous. Please take a clear video or photo/s of the act and person/s involved as this will help to convict the person/s.