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the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

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and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

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The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.

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"Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals are considered animal cruelty," according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA - see related informational paper on ASPCA). It is important to distinguish between the different forms of animal cruelty. While fundamentally different at the source, all forms result in the physical and/or emotional suffering of the animal victim.

One form of animal cruelty is overt, intentional abuse, which occurs when a person purposely causes physical harm, injury or the death of an animal (ASPCA). Another form of animal cruelty is neglect. Failing to provide an animal with the basic necessities of food, water, adequate shelter and appropriate veterinary care are all examples of neglect. In stark contrast to intentional cruelty, the neglect of an animal by an individual is often (though not always) the result of a lack of education and awareness about proper animal care, and can be remedied through education and by requiring the owner to provide these basic life sustaining elements (ASPCA).

While both intentional abuse and neglect can happen at the hands of an individual, larger institutions or businesses that involve animals are also often perpetrators of animal cruelty. For example, the violent training and culling methods used by organized, large scale dog fighters are an example of intentional cruelty and abuse. Canned hunting preserves, of which there are over 4,000 locations in the United States, where exotic animals are penned, sometimes drugged and shot or speared by "hunters" is another form of outright animal abuse (Pacelle 2003). Conversely, the conditions in which many animals are found during a bust of a mass breeding facility, or "puppy mill" is an example of gross animal neglect.

Historic Roots
To begin discussing the history of animal cruelty is to go back literally to ancient times. Fighting dogs for sport, for example, has been traced back as far as the 12th Century, after the war that ensued when the Romans invaded Britain. The British, though they lost the war, delighted in the tenacity and endurance of their dogs, and began exporting them for use in pit fights against larger animals like wild boar and bulls. For centuries these fights occurred across Europe until the baiting of larger animals was prohibited in 1835. At this point, dog-on-dog combat became the cheaper, legal alternative and the fighting dogs, as well as the taste for the brutal blood sport was exported to other countries including the United States (Villavicencio 2007).

Cockfighting (a fight between two game roosters) has its roots deep in American history and culture, with many of the founding fathers being fond of (and participating in) the blood sport. It wasn't until June of 2007 that cockfighting was made illegal in Louisiana, the last of the 50 states to ban the activity - though the ban did not take effect until August of 2008 (Wikipedia). Though illegal throughout the US at this point, cockfighting still occurs with disturbing frequency across the country, particularly in the rural south and in areas with immigrant populations in whose home countries cockfighting may still be legal and part of the cultural norm.

Of course, animal fighting is only one of the many types of animal cruelty, and each has a different history and timeline.

The abuse of farm animals in factory farms, for example, did not see an influx until the early 19th century, when small family farms and traditional ranching of livestock started to cave under the pressure of larger institutional farming practices (Bower). As factory farms became the norm, so, unfortunately did the systematic and prolonged abuse of animals raised for human consumption. Most animals in these facilities are forced to endure physical and psychological abuse for months if not years on end, deprived of the ability to perform behaviors inherent to their species, and housed in overcrowded facilities with insufficient food, water and natural light. Most are given steroids to enhance growth, and antibiotics to fend off illnesses that are likely to occur in such unsanitary conditions. Their eventual slaughter is often performed in a manner as inhumane as the condition in which they are forced to exist until that day.

There are many people working for the improvement of the ways in which animals who are raised for food are handled and slaughtered. Most notable is Temple Grandin. She is one of the leading authorities on the design of animal handling facilities, specializing in the humane handling of animals at the point of slaughter in the meat industry. She is credited with having "done more to improve welfare for animals at the point of slaughter than any human alive." (The Guardian, 10/25/05)

Certified Humane ( www.certifiedhumane.com) offers alternatives to people who choose to eat meat, eggs, dairy and poultry but want assurances that the animals providing these were raised and handled humanely. Certified Humane sets stringent guidelines and conducts rigorous inspections of businesses that raise, handle and slaughter animals for food. The Certified Humane Animal Care Standards require that:

Animals are allowed to engage in their natural behaviors.

Animals are raised with sufficient space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress.

Animals have access to ample fresh water and a healthy diet without added antibiotics or hormones.

Animals are sufficiently protected from the weather.

Animals are provided with other necessary features that ensure their safety, health and comfort.

Managers and caretakers are thoroughly trained, skilled and competent in animal husbandry and welfare.

Managers and caretakers have good working knowledge of their system and the livestock in their care (ASPCA).

The birth of the Internet opened the door for new types of animal abuse to emerge. Among the images of animal cruelty that are available on the Internet are "crush videos" in which well dressed women are shown crushing small animals with their bare feet or stiletto heels. These videos are able to infiltrate mainstream audiences because of increased file sharing networks and the growing popularity of websites that display violent videos for their shock value ( Pet-Abuse.com). Though illegal under the 1999 federal legislation later nicknamed "The Crush Act," it is often very difficult to prosecute the offenders of these crimes, as they are usually able to hide behind the anonymity offered by the virtual world

Importance
Beyond the need to recognize and put an end to animal cruelty for the sake of the animal victims involved, also important to note is the very direct connection between animal cruelty and human violence.

In 1997, a survey of 50 shelters for victims of domestic violence and child abuse indicated that during their intake interviews, 85% of women and 63% of children spoke about incidents of pet abuse that occurred within their home. Further, of the shelter staff surveyed, 83% reported that they have observed the coexistence of domestic violence and pet abuse (Ascione 1997).

In response to this crisis, many domestic violence shelters have begun to partner with local animal protection agencies to create "safe havens" for the pets of the human victims. Oftentimes, domestic violence victims will delay leaving the violent situation because they know or fear that their abuser will harm their pet as a form of retaliation and control (HSUS). With the existence of the "safe havens," the abuse victims in those communities are no longer forced to choose between their pets' safety and their own.

To continue the unfortunate cycle of violence, victims of child abuse are more likely to become perpetrators of animal cruelty themselves. In many cases where a child is a constant witness to spousal abuse, animal abuse, or is a victim of abuse himself, he may act out against what he perceives to be the next most vulnerable target - a family pet, or a stray or wild animal (Adams 1992).

Further, according to data obtained during a 1985 study of 152 men, 102 of whom were serving prison time, childhood animal cruelty was much more prevalent among the violent offenders than among non-violent offenders, or non-criminals (Adams 1992). It should be noted that most of the world's most notorious serial killers are known to have had a history of childhood and/or adolescent animal abuse.

Animal welfare organizations have been at the forefront of the push to promote cross-reporting among agencies that handle abuse cases. Cross-reporting allows for and encourages the protection of all within an abusive situation by providing opportunities to call in any agency that might assist members of the household-for adults, the elderly, children and animals.

There are great strides being made in the United States to end the suffering of animals at the hands of humans. A greater awareness of the issue of animal cruelty can be attributed to television programming. Animal Planet, part of the Discovery Network, has showcased the work of animal investigators all over the country by producing shows like Animal Precinct and the Animal Cops and Animal Planet Heroes series.

Many animal welfare organizations offer humane education programs. Schoolchildren are guided toward participation in service learning and community service projects to bring awareness to the issue of animal cruelty. According to DoSomething.org , animal welfare, including abuse and neglect, is one of the top three concerns of teens and 'tweens (George Weiner, personal communication, June 5, 2008). Awareness, education and community service are effective tools in the fight against animal cruelty. As hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons, in an anti-cruelty campaign produced by the ASPCA, says, "Cruel's Not Cool!"

Ties to the Philanthropic Sector
Wherever there is cruelty to animals, there are people working tirelessly to put an end to it. In 1866 the nation's first animal welfare organization was chartered in New York City by a wealthy shipbuilding heir named Henry Bergh. After spending time observing the inner-workings of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Great Britain, he wondered if such an entity would be able to help stop the animal cruelty he'd been witness to on the streets of New York. Upon arriving home in the states, Bergh drew up the charter for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA's official charter was signed on April 10th of that year, and 9 days later, the first enforceable anti-cruelty law was passed.

In the years that followed, other organizations sprang up in the United States that modeled themselves after the ASPCA. The PSPCA in Philadelphia, PA and the MSPCA in Boston, MA were among the first two to follow Bergh's example in 1867 and 1868 respectively. Well over a century later, SPCA's and Humane Societies exist in cities, towns and communities across the country to combat animal cruelty. These organizations would not exist without the dedication of a group of caring individuals who truly believe every life deserves respect and compassion and to live free from pain and suffering.

Key Related Ideas

Animal Welfare: The compassion and respect due animals as living, responsive beings. Animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and this is not to be left to the compassionate impulses of humans, but is an entitlement that must be protected under the law.

Animal Rights: The rights to humane treatment claimed on behalf of animals, especially the right not to be exploited for human purposes.

Animal Welfare Act: A 1966 law that ensures humane treatment and care for animals used in research and for exhibition purposes. The act also assures that animals are cared for during transportation for sale, and that stolen animals are not eligible for sale (ASPCA).

The Link: The documented connection between the abuse of animals and human violence, particularly child and domestic abuse (American Humane).

Important People Related to the Topic

Henry Bergh (1813-1888) - Founder of the ASPCA in 1866, Bergh set out to create a kinder New York for the city's animals. Known as "The Great Meddler," Henry Bergh was inspired to take action against man's inhumanity toward animals after watching a cart-driver beat his fallen horse (Dracker 1996). His legacy and mission is still carried out by the organization today.

Richard Martin (1754-1834) - Nicknamed "Humanity Dick," British MP Richard Martin co-founded the world's first humane organization, the SPCA in 1824. Two years prior, Martin sent a bill through parliament which offered protection from cruelty to livestock including horses, sheep and cattle. The Organization later became the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) after receiving the blessing of Queen Victoria in 1840 (Wikipedia). This organization was the inspiration for the later formed ASPCA in the United States.

Dr. Randall Lockwood, Ph.D - Currently the Senior Vice President for Anti-Cruelty Initiatives and Legislative Services of the ASPCA, Dr. Lockwood has over thirty years of experience in the field of animal welfare, specifically as it deals with the human-animal bond and the connections between animal cruelty and human violence. He has authored and co-authored several books and published many articles on the subjects, and has testified in trials involving animal cruelty as well as animal abuse occurring within situations of domestic violence or child abuse. Dr. Lockwood also provides training to law-enforcement officials, and professionals in the fields of social service, veterinary science and mental health on recognizing and dealing with animal cruelty in various contexts (Google Pages).

Dr. Melinda Merck, DVM - "The Real-Life Animal CSI" - Dr. Merck is the Forensic Veterinarian for the ASPCA. She began her veterinary career in Georgia, opening a cat clinic in 1990. Through the years at her own practice, she was involved in helping the local animal control agencies with animal cruelty cases. In 2003 she joined the Georgia Legal Professionals for Animals, as the Vice President of Veterinary and Forensic affairs, and began working closely with medical examiners and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to further develop her skills. She has given numerous seminars on the topic of veterinary forensic, and in 2007 published the first ever textbook for the field - Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations (VeterinaryForensics.com)

Temple Grandin, Ph.D. -- Temple Grandin is an important figure in the field of animal welfare. Her work in designing safe, humane animal handling systems for meat processors has eliminated a great deal of inhumane treatment of animals from the meat processing industry. Praise for her work in that field is almost universal. Her other contribution has been to provide some philosophical support for the idea that animals have rights. Her argument that animals are not things because they can feel pain and fear makes an important moral distinction that demands that humans respect the right of animals to be free of fear and pain inflicted by humans (Learning to Give).

Related Non-Profit Organizations

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Founded in 1866, the ASPCA was the first organization of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Its mission, as stated 142 years ago remains the same: To provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The organization boasts regional and national programs, such as Humane Law Enforcement, Legislative Services, Veterinary Outreach and Humane Education.

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - Established in 1954, The HSUS is currently the nation's largest animal protection agency. They actively fight animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect through advocacy programs, investigating cruelty and education.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - Currently the largest animal rights organization in the world, PETA focuses their energies on fighting animal cruelty perpetrated by large industries, such as factory farming, the fur industry, animal experimentation and animals used in entertainment, among others.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: www.aspca.org

Bibliography and Internet Sources
Adams, Cindy A. "America's Abuse Problem." ASPCA Animal Watch, Fall/Winter 1992.

American Humane. Understanding the Link Between Animal Abuse and Family Violence.

Ascione, F., C. Weber, and D. Wood. "The Abuse of Animals and Domestic Violence: A National Survey of Shelters for Women Who Are Battered." The Zero, Originally Published in Society and Animals, 1997, 5(3)

Bower, Joanne. "Treatment of Animals in Agriculture." New Renaissance Magazine. Vol.6 No.2.

Dracker, Pune. "ASPCA History: Regarding Henry." ASPCA Animal Watch, Spring 1996.

Humane Society of the US. Animal Cruelty and Family Violence: Making the Connection.

Pacelle, Wayne,. "Stacking the Hunt" Published: December 9, 2003 NY Times

VeterinaryForensics.com. Veterinary Forensics Symposium. Accessed 7 June 2008. http://www.veterinaryforensics.com/

Villavicencio, Monica. "A History of Dogfighting". NPR.org, July 19, 2007

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"Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals are considered animal cruelty," according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA - see related informational paper on ASPCA ). It is important to distinguish between the different forms of animal cruelty.

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Animals that are held by humans and prevented from escaping are said to be in captivity. The term is usually applied to wild animals that are held in confinement, but may also be used generally to describe the keeping of domesticated animals such as livestock or pets. This may include, for example, animals in farms, private homes, zoos and laboratories. Animal captivity may be categorized according to the particular motives, objectives and conditions of the confinement.

Throughout history not only domestic animals as pets and livestock were kept in captivity and under human care, but also wild animals. Some were failed domestication attempts. Also, in past times, primarily the wealthy, aristocrats and kings collected wild animals for various reasons. Contrary to domestication, the ferociousness and natural behaviour of the wild animals were preserved and exhibited. Today's zoos claim other reasons for keeping animals under human care: conservation, education and science.

Captive animals, especially those not domesticated, sometimes develop abnormal behaviours.

One type of abnormal behaviour is stereotypical behaviors, i.e. repetitive and apparently purposeless motor behaviors. Examples of stereotypical behaviours include pacing, self-injury, route tracing and excessive self-grooming. These behaviors are associated with stress and lack of stimulation. Many who keep animals in captivity attempt to prevent or decrease stereotypical behavior by introducing stimuli, a process known as environmental enrichment.

A type of abnormal behavior shown in captive animals is self-injurious behavior (SIB). Self-injurious behavior indicates any activity that involves biting, scratching, hitting, hair plucking, or eye poke that may result in injuring oneself. Although its reported incidence is low, self-injurious behavior is observed across a range of primate species, especially when they experience social isolation in infancy. Self-bite involves biting one's own body-typically the arms, legs, shoulders, or genitals. Threat bite involves biting one's own body-typically the hand, wrist, or forearm-while staring at the observer, conspecific, or mirror in a threatening manner. Self-hit involves striking oneself on any part of the body. Eye poking is a behavior (widely observed in primates) that presses the knuckle or finger into the orbital space above the eye socket. Hair plucking is a jerking motion applied to one's own hair with hands or teeth, resulting in its excessive removal.

The proximal causes of self-injurious behavior have been widely studied in captive primates; either social or nonsocial factors can trigger this type of behavior. Social factors include changes in group composition, stress, separation from the group, approaches by or aggression from members of other groups, conspecific male individuals nearby, separation from females, and removal from the group. Social isolation, particularly disruptions of early mother-rearing experiences, is an important risk factor. Studies have suggested that, although mother-reared rhesus macaques still exhibit some self-injurious behaviors, nursery-reared rhesus macaques are much more likely to self-abuse than mother-reared ones. Nonsocial factors include the presence of a small cut, a wound or irritant, cold weather, human contact, and frequent zoo visitors. For example, a study has shown that zoo visitor density positively correlates with the number of gorillas banging on the barrier, and that low zoo visitor density caused gorillas to behave in a more relaxed way. Captive animals often cannot escape the attention and disruption caused by the general public, and the stress resulting from this lack of environmental control may lead to an increased rate of self-injurious behaviors.

Studies suggest that many abnormal captive behaviors, including self-injurious behavior, can be successfully treated by pair housing. Pair housing provides a previously single-housed animal with a same-sex social partner. This method is especially effective with primates, which are widely known to be social animals. Social companionship provided by pair housing encourages social interaction, thus reducing abnormal and anxiety-related behavior in captive animals as well as increasing their locomotion.

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Animals that are held by humans and prevented from escaping are said to be in captivity. The term is usually applied to wild animals that are held in confinement, but may also be used generally to describe the keeping of domesticated animals such as livestock or pets.

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When people break the animal law they go to jail.If you kill an animal without a license you get punished. There are laws that people need to provide shelter,food,water,and trips to the vet for animals.

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Dogfighting is one of the most monstrous forms of animal cruelty. Forcing animals to maul each other for entertainment or profit has no place in our society.

Dogfighting is one of the most monstrous forms of animal cruelty. Forcing animals to maul each other for entertainment or profit has no place in our society.

Dogfighting is one of the most monstrous forms of animal cruelty. Forcing animals to maul each other for entertainment or profit has no place in our society.

We're constantly working to pass stronger laws to deter and address this abuse-dogfighting is a felony nationwide, but stiff penalties are only one piece of the puzzle. We also need to ensure that dogs rescued from fighting can be rehabilitated and rehomed quickly. Passage of the HEART ( Help Extract Animals from Red Tape) Act will reduce unnecessary delays in the rehoming of victims rescued in federal cases.

If you agree that these animals have suffered enough and shouldn't suffer further in government red tape, we urge you to ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the head of the Department of Justice, to support the HEART Act and to continue to prioritize dogfighting investigations.

We're constantly working to pass stronger laws to deter and address this abuse-dogfighting is a felony nationwide, but stiff penalties are only one piece of the puzzle. We also need to ensure that dogs rescued from fighting can be rehabilitated and rehomed quickly. Passage of the HEART ( Help Extract Animals from Red Tape) Act will reduce unnecessary delays in the rehoming of victims rescued in federal cases.

If you agree that these animals have suffered enough and shouldn't suffer further in government red tape, we urge you to ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the head of the Department of Justice, to support the HEART Act and to continue to prioritize dogfighting investigations.

We're constantly working to pass stronger laws to deter and address this abuse-dogfighting is a felony nationwide, but stiff penalties are only one piece of the puzzle. We also need to ensure that dogs rescued from fighting can be rehabilitated and rehomed quickly. Passage of the HEART ( Help Extract Animals from Red Tape) Act will reduce unnecessary delays in the rehoming of victims rescued in federal cases.

If you agree that these animals have suffered enough and shouldn't suffer further in government red tape, we urge you to ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the head of the Department of Justice, to support the HEART Act and to continue to prioritize dogfighting investigations.

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Tell the Department of Justice: Have a HEART on Animal Fighting

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If you agree that these animals have suffered enough and shouldn't suffer further in government red tape, we urge you to ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the head of the Department of Justice, to support the HEART Act and to prioritize dogfighting investigations.

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The sentencing council for England and Wales : make sentencing for animal abuse much stronger.

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As the Eastern seaboard braces for a direct hit by Hurricane Matthew, it's essential that everyone who lives in the area expected to be affected gets themselves out of harm's way and does everything that they can to protect themselves and their families. However, people aren't the only ones who experience the effects of these sorts of natural disasters. Animals are also very much at risk, and there are many ways that you can help stray animals before, during, and after Hurricane Matthew.

Animals' main disadvantage during events like these is that they don't know what's going on, so they can't heed the warnings. Even the most loving and caring pet owners sometimes lose their animals under these extreme circumstances simply because the animal flee, taking what its instincts tell it is the best course of action. We all remember the tragic stories in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, when hundreds of pets went missing and people were unable to find (and sometimes even unable to reclaim) them.

Even with Matthew rapidly approaching, however, there are things you can do to prepare and knowledge that you can arm yourself with, just in case you run into a stray cat or dog yourself in the coming days. Here are 11 things you can do to help strays before, during, and after Hurricane Matthew sweeps through your area.

1. The Best Defense Is A Good Offense

If you have a pet yourself, prepare for what might be a tough time with a pet emergency kit. Stock up several days' worth of food, and gather blankets, toys, and other comforting objects to try to calm your dog or cat down in case the weather gets loud and frightening for them. Get together your pet's medical records, and make sure you've got its collar securely on. This is probably a given, but make sure you have have a recent picture of yourself with your pet, just in case you have to prove ownership.

2. Prepare For Feral Animals, Too

If you ever take care of feral animals in your community, help them prepare for the storm too in any way you can. Set up a potential shelter on high ground, and leave extra dry food there. Make a list with pictures of the cats who live there so that you can help identify them in case they end up at shelters in the aftermath. If there are any friendly cats or kittens who are still young enough to be socialized (under about 14 weeks), now is a great time to safely capture them and take them to a safe place.

3. Don't Assume Someone Else Will Help

If you see an animal in danger (swimming in flood waters, for example, or trapped in the middle of a street), consider it your responsibility to help it if at all possible. You don't know when the next person will come along, how long the animal has been lost or struggling, and how much gas it's got left in the tank. Once you see a stray, you have the chance to save its life.

4. Try To Check Whether It's Feral Or Stray

A feral animal is an animal that was born in the wild and lives independently. A stray is a domestic animal that has lost its home. If it's feral, an animal will generally resist your advances, as it's not used to people at all. It's also very likely that a feral animal won't be spayed or neutered. A stray will probably be very frightened, but if you approach it calmly, it will eventually be willing to cooperate with you. Figuring this out will help you figure out how to help the animal afterwards.

5. Keep Yourself Safe

Remember, the animal is going to be frightened, and it might lash out. Approach it slowly, carefully, and calmly, speaking in gentle tones and not trying to touch it until it has decided to come closer to you by choice or otherwise signaled to you that it won't scratch or bite you. Natural disasters offer an excellent breeding ground for several viruses and bacteria, and you don't want to put yourself through that.

6. Shoulder Full Responsibility - If You Can

Once you pick up an animal, recognize that you are the one best positioned to take care of it. You might need to pay vet bills if it's sick or injured, take care of it for an extended period of time, and then return it to its owner if the owner can be found. If you don't feel able to take on that responsibility, it's best for you to take the animal directly to a shelter.

7. If It's Injured, Go To A Vet Right Away

If the animal has a few scratches, you can probably fix it up with a first aid kit (but only if you feel comfortable doing that!). If it's anything more serious than that, you need to take it to the vet right away. And remember, good veterinary care can be expensive, so be prepared to pay for the animal's care yourself.

8. Take Care Of The Animal And Make It Comfortable

If you can take the animal directly home, make sure you have a cozy place for it. This will help a lot with the fear and sense of disorientation that it must be experiencing. Give it food and water, but don't force it to eat. Your first priority in terms of care, however, is notifying animal control that you found a stray, and telling them about any forms of identification it might have.

9. Put Out Ads Everywhere You Can

This animal might be someone's pet, and that person might be frantically looking for it. Put out ads on Facebook, on Craigslist, on telephone poles, in the newspaper, and everywhere else that you can think of.

10. Follow The Golden Rule

The golden rule applies here and everywhere else. If someone found your lost pet, what would you want them to do? Think about that, and do exactly that for the lost pet that you've found yourself. Remember, part of that is preparing for the moment you have to give the animal up if you're able to find its owner.

11. Donate To Your Local Animal Shelter

If you're just not in a position to help a stray animal yourself, that's totally fine and completely understandable. However, if you still want to do something to ensure that animals affected by Hurricane Matthew get the care they need, the best way to do that is to donate as much as you can to your local animal shelter, ASPCA, or any other organization working to help them. After Hurricane Sandy, celebrity chef Rachael Ray donated $500,000 to help local displaced animals. That's probably out of your budget, but even $10 or $20 could help provide a frightened animal with a good meal and a cozy blanket.

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How To Help Stray Animals During Hurricane Matthew

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As the Eastern seaboard braces for a direct hit by Hurricane Matthew, it's essential that everyone who lives in the area expected to be affected gets themselves out of harm's way and does everything that they can to protect themselves and their famil...

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Living conditions are often dismal, with animals confined to tiny, filthy, barren enclosures. But even the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals want and need. This deprivation-combined with relentless boredom, loneliness, and sometimes even abuse from the people who are supposed to be caring for them-causes many captive animals to lose their minds. Animals with this condition, called "zoochosis," often rock, sway, or pace endlessly, and some even resort to hurting themselves by chewing on their own fingers or limbs or pulling out their fur or feathers.

Zoochosis is so rampant that some zoos even administer antidepressants and antipsychotics to try to curb the abnormal behavior.
Scam Shelters
The number of roadside zoos that have tacked on the word "sanctuary" or "rescue" to their names has skyrocketed in recent years. Kind people are naturally drawn to places that claim to rescue animals and offer them sanctuary, but many of these outfits are nothing more than breeders, dealers, and exhibitors exploiting the public's goodwill and generosity.

The fundamental purpose of any legitimate animal sanctuary is to provide animals with safe, comfortable living conditions that give them as natural an existence as captivity allows. No legitimate animal sanctuary breeds or sells animals. No reputable exotic-animal sanctuary allows any kind of "hands-on" interaction, and that includes taking photos with animals or taking them out on the road for public display.
Drive-Through Safaris
While drive-through safaris or wildlife parks may seem like a better alternative, many of these facilities breed animals continuously, because baby animals attract customers. But babies grow up quickly, and older, unwanted animals may be warehoused like inventory or quietly shipped out. Since paper trails are notoriously inaccurate and difficult to follow, it's nearly impossible to know how many "surplus" animals end up at auctions, in slaughterhouses, or on hunting ranches.
Traveling and Petting Zoos
Animals used in traveling zoos are subjected to the stresses of transport, strange and frightening environments, irregular feeding and watering, mishandling, and extensive public contact. The sheer logistics of getting from one venue to the next does not allow for much downtime to let animals rest or exercise or to enable caretakers to attend to sick or injured animals. It's impossible to know how many animals suffer and die en route, because zoo caravans are constantly on the move, and for the most part, no one is watching. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees animal displays, but with just over 100 officers responsible for inspecting more than 8,600 licensees, it's impossible for the USDA to monitor all exhibitors adequately.

Forced to interact with crowds of people all day long, animals used in petting zoos may not get enough food, water, and rest. Some snap. Many children and adults have been seriously injured by tigers, primates, and other animals who are used as props in photo shoots.

Petting zoos are hotbeds of E. coli bacteria, and numerous children have been infected with the potentially deadly bug after visiting such displays. Infections can spread through direct animal contact or mere touching of the surroundings near an animal exhibit.

Roadside zoos and backyard menageries often involve small-scale operations where animals are kept in ramshackle concrete and chain-link cages. Most don't even have a blade of grass, much less any meaningful enrichment. Animals are often deprived of adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care.
What You Can Do
Don't pass a few hours at a place where animals will languish in misery long after you've gone home. Please don't buy a ticket. Instead, explain to your children why your family does not support cruelty to animals.

People can support rescue operations affiliated with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). GFAS is an organization that upholds rigorous standards of sanctuary management and animal care. Member sanctuaries don't breed or use animals in commercial activities, and they provide excellent lifetime care.

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Roadside Zoos and Other Captive-Animal Displays | PETA

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Living conditions are often dismal, with animals confined to tiny, filthy, barren enclosures. But even the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals want and need. This deprivation-combined with relentless boredom, loneliness, and sometimes even abuse from the people who are supposed to be caring for them-causes many captive animals to lose their minds.

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Living conditions are often dismal, with animals confined to tiny, filthy, barren enclosures. But even the best artificial environments can’t come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals want and need.

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Did you know that you can help animals no matter how old you are? Take Sydney and Alexandria, for example. They're only 12, and they've been donating their time to helping animals for years! There are millions of dogs, cats, bunnies, and other animals in need of homes all over the U.S., and there are so many ways for you to help them.

Here are Sydney and Alexandria's top 10 ways for kids like you to help animals in shelters:

1. Educate your friends and family.

Teach people how important it is to spay and neuter their dogs and cats. Around 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the U.S. every day, and there are nowhere near enough good homes for all of them. Spaying and neutering can help end the homeless-animal crisis!

2. Ask for birthday donations.

For Sydney and Alexandria's 10 th birthday, they decided that there was nothing they wanted more than to make animals in need happy. They asked their friends and family to give them donations for their local animal shelter instead of birthday presents, and they raised enough money to buy warm beds for so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the cold concrete floor.

3. Raise money for animals.

Head over to a local business, like a grocery or hardware store, with your parents and ask if you can hold a bake sale in front of the building. Once you get the OK, hang signs up in your neighborhood a couple of weeks in advance letting people know when, where, and why you'll be holding the bake sale. Be sure to make lots of yummy vegan treats and create signs showing the prices of the goodies.

Ask your parents to post about your bake sale on Facebook to make sure that lots of people will know about it! During the sale, make sure you have some cash with you to give people change and plenty of napkins and bags so customers can take their treats to go. And of course, be sure to put out a donation collection can. (Sydney and Alexandria have held many bake sales for animals, and they say that people often give a donation without even taking a treat!)

4. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.

You may need your parents' help with this one, since some shelters require that volunteers be a certain age unless they ' re with a parent. If you find a shelter that will let you volunteer, you can walk , clean up after the animals, refill water bowls, and give out toys and treats. Even just being there to pet cats and scratch dogs behind the ears will help them feel less lonely.

5. Adopt animals from shelters.

Instead of buying them from pet stores or breeders, be sure to always adopt animals from local shelters. Every year, more than 6 million animals are taken to shelters, and about half are euthanized because there aren't enough good homes for them. If you have friends who are ready to take good care of a dog or cat (or any animal), urge them to adopt from a shelter instead of buying from a breeder or a pet store.

6. Set up a donation drive.

Ask your teacher or school principal if you can lead a donation drive at your school for an animal shelter. You and your parents can write a letter telling your school officials how you plan on doing it and why it's important to collect items that animals in shelters need, like food, toys, leashes, beds, and blankets. You can ask your classmates and their friends and family to donate. And get a group of your own friends together to make colorful posters so you can spread the word about the donation drive!

7. Foster an animal.

Ask your parents to help you foster a homeless dog or cat. There are so many animals in need of a safe temporary place to hang out while they recover from an illness or injury, and some puppies and kittens need a quiet place to grow, away from the busy animal shelter. If you can commit your time and resources to fostering an animal, you'll be helping two animals-the one you take into your home and another one who will get a place in the shelter.

It can be hard to say goodbye to an animal you've been fostering once they're adopted into a permanent home and no longer need you to take care of them. But the good news is that because of you, an animal got a second chance at life in a loving home, and that's pretty awesome! Fostering an animal is a big commitment, so you'll need to ask your parents to help while you're at school. With their mom's help, Sydney and Alexandria have fostered more than 25 animals. If they can do it, so can you!

8. Speak up.

When you see animals in trouble, try to help them. If you see a dog chained to a tree every day when you walk home from school, ask your parents to call your local animal control officers and tell them why you're worried about the situation. If you ever see kids being mean to stray cats (or anyone hurting any animals) stand up for them if you can. If it's not safe for you to get involved, then ask a parent or trusted teacher to help.

9. Be kind to animals of all ages.

Elderly dogs and cats may sleep most of the day and not want to play very much, but they need love and care, too. Sometimes, people are more interested in puppies and kittens because they're more fun and playful, and older dogs and cats get ignored or neglected. Make it a point to give some extra attention to the older animals at your local shelter whenever you stop by!

10. Spread the word.

Ask your parents to post a photo or a video of a dog or who needs a home on their Instagram or Facebook pages. Many shelters have fliers you can download and hang in local coffee shops and other businesses. If not, just make your own! Along with pictures of the animals, include their age and gender, whether or not they get along with other animals and young kids, and any health problems they have. Also, don't forget to put in the shelter's contact information for anyone who is interested in . All it takes is one kind person to see your flier and decide to adopt!

Are you ready to be a hero for animals in shelters, just like Sydney and Alexandria?

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Did you know that you can help animals no matter how old you are? Take Sydney and Alexandria, for example. They're only 12, and they've been donating their time ...

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One thing we humans fail at is seeing the big picture. We are often blind to the interconnectedness of everything that supports life, a web so complex and interdependent, we are only beginning to understand it. The food chain, from the tiniest little microorganisms to the largest creatures on earth, keep us humans alive.

So, when we talk about the grey whale, the timber wolf, the black rhino, it's not just that we should save these endangered creatures for their own good, but it's also for ours.The current legislation and government bodies that protect wild species from extinction are both being defunded and reorganized. It will be up to ordinary citizens and environmental groups to save these important links on the food chain. Here are someways to accomplish this.

1. Educate your family about endangered species in your area. It's not just about snow leopards in Russia, it's about the ecosystem in your own backyard. Teach your friends and family about wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. Just awareness of these species is a critical step. From the worms in the garden to the bats that pollinate and control the mosquitos, there are many ways that our daily habits at home affect these creatures.

2. Recycle and buy sustainable products. Much of what threatens local populations has to do with development and more and more of the natural world is plundered to product new goods. Never buy furniture made of wood from rainforests or endangered trees. Recycle your cell phones, because a mineral used in electronic production is mined in gorilla habitat. Don't use palm oil because forests where tigers live are being cut down to plant palm plantations.

3. Grow native plants. It's a no-brainer but local species rely on local plants. You are providing food and shelter for native wildlife and you can reduce your water usage at the same time. Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your flowers. And conversely, invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat, threatening biodiversity. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction. For more information about native plants in your area, visit http://www.plantsocieties.org

4. Reduce your water consumption. During droughts, people get better about not watering their lawns, but we need to understand that clean water is a global problem for wild animals, so the less humans consume, the better. Never dump chemicals or pharmaceuticals down toilets, storm drains or into streams or lakes.

5. Reduce your personal footprint. Drive less, walk more. Support better public transport, use biodegradable products and eat whole food from your farmers market.

6. Do not buy plastic products. Take your bags to the store, reuse containers and properly dispose of lightweight plastics. Wild animals get tangled in these products, and they end up in the ocean being ingested by small fish and killing off beneficial microorganisms.

7. Pressure your civil servants. It cannot rest on the scientific community alone to defend the natural world, voters and consumers must take a stand. This means singing petitions, writing letters and donating.

8. Volunteer your time to protect the wildlife in your area. Wildlife refuges,parks, and other places are often underfunded and desperate for help.Volunteering at one of these places to protect the animals might mean just educating visitors, or picking up litter.

9. Do not purchase products from companies that are known polluters. Many industries pollute natural water resources and lobby hard so that they don't have to clean up their own messes. You can do your part by not giving these companies your business, and cast your vote with your dollar. Spread the word about bad business practices and when it dings their bottom lines, these companies will take notice.

10. Get in touch with your Fish and Game Department. If you hunt, keep your licenses up to date and stay in touch with your local WFG so that you know which populations of game need culling and which are under threat. Hunting,instituted properly, is a sustainable way of maintaining wild populations like deer and turkey.

11. Black out the Black Market. Sometimes when we travel, we don't realize that the souvenirs we are buying are under threat. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, and coral.

12. Herbicides and pesticides are hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels. These chemicals take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils before disseminating throughout the food chain. Critical predators like hawks, owls and coyotes suffer if they eat poisoned animals, and it can rock whole populations. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and its unnecessary! For alternatives to pesticides, visit http://www.beyondpesticides.org

There is so much we can be doing to protect these animals and vulnerable species from extinction, but we must make these changes now. Our kids need to see us upgrading our own behavior and taking the issues seriously. For more on helping endangered species, visit: http://www.endangered.org

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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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One thing we humans fail at is seeing the big picture. We are often blind to the interconnectedness of everything that supports life, a web so complex and interdependent, we are only beginning to understand it. The food chain, from the tiniest little microorganisms to the largest creatures on earth, keep us humans alive.

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There are roughly 2.6 million dogs and cats killed in U.S. shelters annually because they lack a home, but as many as 30 million Americans add a new animal to their households every year. We do not...

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Melissa Bjorkenstam

Courting Legal Change
While pets enjoy growing social acceptance, the law plays catch-up, and legal eagles and legislators slowly pave the way for legal rights for animals.
Under most state and federal laws, animals primarily are regarded as property and have little or no legal rights of their own. Because of this status, generally there is a presumption-provided no law is violated-in favor of the owner's control and use over the best interests of the animal. If, for example, someone decides that the family dog or cat becomes "too much trouble," the animal companion can be legally relinquished to a veterinarian and euthanized.

Anticruelty laws require that animals be provided with basic necessities and be treated humanely, unless it is "necessary" or "justifiable" to deny them food, water or shelter. As long as individuals comply with these minimal standards, they may go unpunished for actions that are not necessarily in the best interest of the animal and that may even cause pain and suffering, such as relinquishing a cat to a pound that sells animals for research or subjecting a dog to cosmetic tail docking and ear cropping.

Yet even when anticruelty statutes do apply, prosecutors are usually overwhelmed with cases and frequently lack the evidence needed to litigate successfully. In practice, this means that only the most egregious cases of animal cruelty and neglect are prosecuted. Moreover, although all states have anticruelty laws, those laws either specifically except or have been interpreted not to apply to the use of animals in socially accepted industries, such as agribusiness or scientific research, or for necessary or justifiable-albeit cruel-practices.

For example, an individual who starved his chicken "for no good reason" could be prosecuted. However, in the poultry industry it is accepted practice to starve hens to induce their feathers to molt. In this forced molting, hens are deprived of any food for up to 14 days as a means of boosting egg production. Although this causes extreme suffering and violates basic anticruelty provisions, forced molting is standard industry wide, and it would be argued that the practice is justifiable and necessary to meet public demand for eggs.

As author and attorney David Wolfson states, "Under the majority of anticruelty statutes, customary farming practices, no matter how cruel and no matter how much suffering occurs, cannot be found to be violations of the criminal law. As a result, the farming community can currently inflict an egregious amount of suffering on animals, who represent more than 95 percent-approximately 8 billion-of the animals killed annually in the United States."
Use or Abuse?
Two federal laws, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Humane Slaughter Act, regulate practices involving animal research, animals in exhibition and entertainment, animal breeding and transport and slaughter of most livestock. However, these laws provide only minimal protection and represent a balance between not causing an animal undue pain and suffering and using them for human benefit. The AWA sets standards for the humane housing, handling and transportation by those persons and entities covered. There are also regulations to ensure that the pain and distress of animals is minimized, and that researchers consider alternatives to animal use. Nevertheless, animals can still lawfully be used in experimental procedures without any anesthesia or pain relief, if this is a component of the research conducted.

The Humane Slaughter Act requires that most livestock be stunned and made insensible to pain before being cut, shackled or hoisted. Yet when stunning devices do not work properly, enforcement is difficult. Furthermore, this law applies only to the slaughter of animals-and even then does not include poultry. Food animals, then, are provided little protection under accepted husbandry practice.
Finding a Voice
With their status as property, animals are unable to bring a civil suit for themselves if they are harmed. To bring a case in court, a party must have legal "standing." The requirement of standing is satisfied if an individual has a right to protection from the wrong done to him and can show that he was wronged by the person he is suing. Although animals cannot speak for themselves in court, a guardian could be appointed to represent the animal and the animal's best interests. However, animal protection groups do not usually have standing, either.

This is illustrated by the case of Kama the dolphin, which was decided in October 1993 (Citizens to End Animal Suffering and Exploitation, Inc. v. New England Aquarium). Raised in captivity, Kama was transferred in 1986 from Sea World in San Diego to the New England Aquarium in Boston. A year later, Kama was transported from the aquarium to a U.S. Navy base in Hawaii, where he was held for research studies.

In protest, Citizens to End Animal Suffering and Exploitation, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the Progressive Animal Welfare Society and Kama sued the aquarium and the departments of the Navy and Commerce. They argued that certain provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act had been violated. However, the court decided that neither Kama nor the plaintiff organizations had standing to bring a suit. The court ruled that the Marine Mammal Protection Act does not authorize suits brought by animals and that according to both Massachusetts and Hawaii law, animals lack legal rights and are considered exclusively the property of their owners.
One for All
Yet a recent case has provided some hope that, in certain situations, individuals may be able to sue for the mistreatment of animals based on injuries to the individuals themselves. In ALDF v. Glickman, which was decided in September 1998, Mark Jurnove, an employee and volunteer for various animal organizations, sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and alleged that the inhumane treatment of animals at the Long Island (NY) Game Farm Park and Zoo injured his senses and prevented him from observing and enjoying the animals.

When Jurnove first visited the park in May 1995, he saw many primates living in inhumane conditions. From his work with animals, Jurnove knew that primates are extremely social and don't cope well with isolation. At the park, a Japanese snow macaque and a chimpanzee each languished in separate cages far away from other primates. A group of frightened squirrel monkeys were forced to live beside captive adult bears.

Jurnove, who returned to the park several times, made several complaints to the USDA about the animals' housing conditions. After no changes were instituted, Jurnove filed his suit. The court ruled that he did suffer an injury and that he was disturbed when he repeatedly tried to visit. Since Jurnove planned to continue seeing the animals, and his injury could be addressed with more stringent regulations for the primates' well-being, the court decided that he had standing to sue. However, it later ruled that the primate's living conditions were adequate.
Loved One Lost
Another consequence of animals' status as property is that if one is hurt or killed by someone other than his owner, the damages that can be recovered-if any-are minimal. Even if devastated, an owner can usually only be compensated for the pet's market value. In general, courts do not recognize or award punitive damages for "emotional distress" or "loss of companionship" in these cases.

Consider, for example, the case of Gluckman v. American Airlines, which was decided in February 1994 by a court in the southern district of New York. Floyd was a golden retriever who wandered into Andrew Gluckman's campsite in Phoenix, AZ. The two quickly became attached. When it came time for them to return home to New York, American Airlines advised Gluckman that Floyd had to ride in the plane's cargo hold as excess baggage.

On the day of the flight, the plane returned to the gate because of mechanical problems. As it remained there for more than an hour, the temperature in the unventilated baggage compartment soared to 140 degrees. Gluckman, who was going to miss his next connection, got off the plane and asked for Floyd. He was horrified to find the dog's crate covered with blood from Floyd's desperate attempts to escape. The dog had to be euthanized the next morning due to heatstroke and brain damage.

Gluckman sued American Airlines on several claims, including the negligent infliction of emotional distress, the intentional infliction of emotional distress, the loss of companionship and Floyd's pain and suffering. Gluckman argued that he was severely distraught by witnessing a part of his dog's physical and mental pain and suffering that led to Floyd's untimely death. But the court dismissed his claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress by citing an earlier New York case. The court had decided then that the law did not allow the plaintiff to recover for mental suffering and emotional disturbance for the loss of a passenger's property, which in that case was also a dog.

It ruled that Gluckman could not recover for the intentional infliction of emotional distress, either, because American Airlines did not aim its conduct leading up to Floyd's death directly at him. Gluckman's claims for loss of companionship and Floyd's pain and suffering were also unsuccessful, because the court ruled that no independent claim existed for either situation when applied to an animal.

In April 2000, Congress enacted the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act. Air carriers are now required to report incidents of loss, injury or death of animals on their flights and improve employee training in handling animals humanely. Although this law only makes incremental changes, it gives hope that greater legal protection for animals can gradually be achieved.
Taking a Stand
Currently, a few promising routes exist for chipping away at animals' property status. The first is to pursue basic rights for animals, such as chimpanzees, based on their striking similarities to humans. Ninety-eight percent of chimps' genetic makeup is identical to that of humans, and a tremendous amount of scientific research has proven the high levels of self-awareness and cognition they possess. Animal advocates argue that it is unfair to deprive chimps of the right to liberty and bodily integrity, when such humans as infants and the comatose, who possess less self-awareness and cognition, are given these rights. In a positive step, the New Zea-land Parliament recently banned the use of great apes in research, testing and teaching unless it is in the best interest of the species studied.

The second route is to gain recognition that companion animals are more than items of property. One important change that many states have made recognizes the best interest of the animal and provides some hope for further developments: Increasingly, state cruelty laws provide judicial discretion to order the forfeiture of abused animals from owners convicted of cruelty. And in February 2000, Tennessee broke new ground by passing the "T-Bo Act," legislation which will allow up to $4,000 in "noneconomic damages" for people whose animals are killed or who sustain serious injuries that later lead to their death. [This case was reported in "From Tears to Triumph in Tennessee" in the Winter 2000 issue of Animal Watch.]
Seeds of Change
Many animal advocacy groups are also working to change the term "owner" to "guardian." In July 2000, the Boulder City (CO) Council followed the lead of San Francisco and Marin County, CA, by changing the city's municipal code to refer to people as "guardians" of their companion animals instead of as their "owners." While this does not change the legal status of animals, it is a step in changing society's views. "By disavowing the concept and accompanying language of animal 'ownership,' we can reconstruct the social and legal relationship between humans and animals," states Elliot Katz, D.V.M., the president of Mill Valley, CA-based In Defense of Animals. "As our societal perceptions of animals change, the legislatures and courts will begin to recognize our obligation to protect animals, not as someone's personal property, but as conscious beings with feelings and interests of their own."
Based in Los Angeles, Melissa Bjorkenstam is a second-year law student who volunteers with the UCLA Animal Welfare Association.

LEGAL RIGHTS FOR ANIMALSThere are three ways for animals to obtain legal rights. First and foremost, any broad protections or rights, such as granting standing to animals, will probably have to come through legislation. Passing legislation is often an arduous process and entails a fair amount of compromise and negotiation. Big businesses that depend on large-scale animal use-such as the food, fur and research industries-lobby to ensure as little regulation as possible. Since these industries are multimillion- or even billion-dollar industries with significant political clout, legislation granting rights to animals requires a lot of public support. One successful piece of legislation signed into law in November 2000, however, bans the sale of cat and dog fur products in the United States.

Secondly, building precedent that is favorable to our fellow creatures can occur step-by-step through individual cases, the decisions of which create common law. Individual judges are unlikely to make any sweeping changes with a single case. However, once a few cases have given greater protection to animals, it might be easier to bring legislation that codifies those decisions into statutory law.

A third way to create legal change is to introduce a ballot initiative or referendum. This method approaches the voting public directly and bypasses the legislature, which may be subject to pressures from various industries. In 1998, for example, California voters enacted through an initiative a ban on the transportation of animals associated with and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. However, this venue is also a costly way of changing the law.
-M.B.

© ASPCA 2001
ASPCA Animal Watch - Spring 2001

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Melissa Bjorkenstam Courting Legal Change While pets enjoy growing social acceptance, the law plays catch-up, and legal eagles and legislators slowly pave the way for legal rights for animals. Under most state and federal laws, animals primarily are regarded as property and have little or no legal rights of their own.