Fundamentals of Animal Abuse

2 Fundamentals of Animal Abuse



Classification of abuse


Confusion frequently surrounds the words ‘animal abuse’, because they are used to encompass a great variety of circumstances. In addition, other terms, such as ‘animal cruelty’, ‘maltreatment’ or ‘ill treatment’ are also widespread.


Veterinarians are aware (sometimes uneasily) that a further complication lies in the fact that the question of whether a situation or act involving an animal is judged ‘abusive’ also depends on the views that human society holds on particular groups of animals. For example, attitudes on what is accepted as tolerable regarding the husbandry and slaughter of farm livestock, the trapping and poisoning of animal ‘vermin’, and the use of laboratory animals in scientific research are quite different from what would be regarded as acceptable in the family pets. In other words, treatment that is commonly tolerated in one group of animals might well be considered ‘abusive’ in another.


However, in companion animals, confusion can easily and simply be avoided by applying the tried and tested typology developed successfully by the medical profession for child abuse. It can also be used in appropriate cases in all other animal groups.



Advantages of the typology



• It is simple.

• It allows a common language between veterinarians and other health professionals, such as paediatricians or child protection personnel.

• It reinforces consensus on consistent terminology, which is an important factor when carrying out research in this difficult field. Without the use of standard definitions, it is difficult to compare research conducted by different research teams.

The typology consists of four basic types of abuse: physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. More than one type may coexist.



Physical abuse



Synonyms:


non-accidental injury (NAI); battered pet syndrome


The perpetrator of physical abuse subjects the animal to a variety of actions that cause bodily injury. In some cases the fact that deliberate physical abuse has taken place is perfectly clear. A man witnessed beating his dog to death with a hammer would be such an instance. In others it is much less straightforward, and therefore can be much more difficult to recognise and diagnose. (See Chapter 3: Non-accidental injury.)


Figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in England and Wales for offences involving violence to animals show that violent acts are more often carried out by men than by women.



Sexual abuse


This means the use of an animal for sexual gratification. The term ‘animal sexual abuse’ is preferable to the more familiar ‘bestiality’ or ‘zoophilia’, both of which focus primarily on the perpetrator, and thus fail to convey any sense of the physical harm that may occur to the animal. (See Chapter 14: Sexual abuse of animals.)


It is the very fact that the abuse involves the sexual organs or anus/rectum that distinguishes the abuse as sexual in nature. Physical injury to animals (or birds) of either sex may result and, depending on the actual type of sexual act carried out, and the size of the animal, can be very severe.



Emotional abuse


Although some might claim that animals have no emotions, and therefore cannot be emotionally abused, it is difficult to believe that veterinarians and animal behaviour specialists would agree. For example, regular threatening be-haviour and verbal harassment of the animal (shouts, angry gestures), or a failure to provide psychological comfort, clearly constitute emotional abuse. However, neither author of this textbook makes any claim to expertise in this area, belonging as it does to the realm of specialists in animal behaviour. It is therefore not a subject of discussion here.



Neglect


This simply means a failure to provide the animal with the basic physical necessities of life: food, water and shelter. It also includes failure to seek veterinary attention for injury and for naturally occurring illness. Failure to provide veterinary attention in cases of natural illness is neglectful and falls within the definition of abuse.


Abandonment of an animal is a clear example of neglect, as is the all too common practice of allowing a collar to tighten and constrict the neck of a growing animal. Both men and women neglect animals, and it is common in all animal groups. (See Chapter 5: Neglect.)

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Related posts:

  1. Forensic Examination and Report Writing
  2. Introduction
  3. Asphyxia and Drowning
  4. Thermal Injuries

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Oct 7, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL | Comments Off on Fundamentals of Animal Abuse

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