Animal Cruelty
They are victims without a voice. Every year, thousands of animals are victims of cruelty. Animal cruelty encompasses a broad range of behaviors harmful to animals. There are no federal cruelty laws; the Animal Welfare Act is only federal law that governs the humane care, handling, treatment, and transportation of some animals in certain situations. Meanwhile, state definitions of animal cruelty vary. “There is no simple answer to the question, ‘what is animal cruelty,’ since the definition differs from state to state,” says Bret Hopman, senior manager of Media & Communications for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “Adding to the confusion, ‘cruelty’ is often used as a catch-all for offenses against animals, including abuse, neglect, animal fighting, abandonment, and practicing veterinary medicine without a license.” “Animal cruelty is recognized as a crime throughout this country as exemplified in state and federal...