Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, happens every single day.

We humans sometimes harm animals for our specific needs. We hurt or kill them for food, clothing, entertainment, and or research. Animal cruelty can be either deliberate abuse, or simply the failure to take care of an animal.

There are laws concerning animal cruelty, preventing unnecessary cruelty to animals. Many places around the world forbid animal abuse, but there are some places that couldn’t care less about it. The animal welfare position states that there is nothing wrong with using animals for human purposes as long as it minimizes pain and suffering.

Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals. Animal welfare is measured by indicators including behavior, physiology, longevity, and reproduction. In Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, animal welfare is defined as “the avoidance of abuse and exploitation of animals by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, the prevention and treatment of disease and the assurance of freedom from harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain.” It is a sad state of affairs that animal cruelty happens everyday and it would be nice if all of this came to an end.