Horserider
10-12-2008, 02:36 PM
Ok here's the second draft of my essay. Now my real essay is double-spaced so it does look a little better than this. There is one specific question i want to ask though. Should I leave in or take out the examples of neglect and abuse in the second paragraph? The case is in the second paragraph and the outcome is in the third. It was hard to find an example of abuse that didn't totally disgust me or make me want to scream. I have to read this in front of my class so I didn't want to go too disgusting. Anyway please read and critique. I'd like some advice. Oh yeah the assignment was for a persuasive essay on an issue. I decided to go national though we weren't really supposed to. I think this is more of a speech, but that's okay. I'm in 10th grade so try to judge it somewhere around that level. Oh and do you think i should change the title?
Animal Abuse – A Problem of Understated Importance
Jeremy Bentham once said, “The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer?” There have been 1,320 cases of animal neglect and abuse recorded in the US so far this year (pet-abuse.com). This number has remained relatively consistent for the last decade. Judging by that statistic animal abuse is still a major problem and it must be addressed.
Animal abuse and neglect are both separate issues, but both need to be dealt with. Abuse is the intentional mistreatment of an animal. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter or veterinary care. However both issues are very prevalent and serious. Many of you are wondering: Why should I care? Does it really matter how animals are treated? Of course it does. For example intentional cruelty to animals can stem from psychological distress. Oftentimes people who treat animals badly may also abuse their spouses or children in the same way. Studies in psychology, criminology and sociology over the last 25 years have shown that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. Animal abuse and neglect is a national problem that should be addressed properly. In 2007, there were 1,909 cases of animal cruelty and neglect reported in the US and in 2006, there were 2,338 cases reported. It’s safe to assume that there are numerous cases every year that go unreported and unresolved. Every year hundreds of animals suffer cruelty at their owner’s and sometimes their owner’s friends and family’s hands. One example of animal neglect took place in Washington. A woman was charged after five malnourished dogs were found on her property. One of the dogs, a puppy, had been treated for mange with kerosene. In Pennsylvania a dog was poisoned in its own backyard. It was believed that something containing battery acid or rat poison was thrown over the fence. (pet-abuse.com) As is well known by animal lovers and proven by much research despite what many people may try to believe animals are very intelligent and can feel just as well as the rest of us.
The first solution I propose is stricter laws for animal abuse and neglect. Neglect may stem from ignorance, but that doesn’t make it any better than abuse. Therefore the two should be considered equally though the punishments may not be equal depending on the case. Did you know that there are no federal laws on animal abuse and neglect? It’s true. The court decision depends on the law of the state the crime was committed in. All states now have laws covering animal abuse and neglect, but the severity of the punishment varies widely be state. It is only a misdemeanor in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota. Animal abuse and neglect is a felony in all other states. The punishments vary regarding jail time and fines. For example the maximum jail time in Alabama and Louisiana is 10 years and in Mississippi and North Carolina it’s only 6 months. Another example is the maximum fines. The largest is Colorado, with $500,000, and the smallest is $1,000 in South Dakota, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These statistics show that the punishment is wildly erratic. That is why I propose that there should be federal laws regarding animal abuse. Many state laws are fairly lax regarding animal abuse. In the first example the woman was only banned from owning more than two dogs and 3 of her dogs seized including the puppy. In the second example the perpetrator was never found and brought to justice. Federal laws should at least issue a minimum for the punishment of animal abuse.
Another solution that I would like to propose is education. If owners were properly educated in animal care then perhaps there wouldn’t be as many neglect cases. Many neglect cases are the result of ignorance. Some pet owners just don’t realize that there animal requires constant access to food, water and shelter and requires veterinary care. Some people even believe that animals are more like lawn ornaments and furniture than living creatures. Therefore they must be educated that this is not true. Some of the fault lies with pet stores and breeders. They should be more careful when selling their animals to make sure they are going to owners that know about their care. Many abandoned animals are the result of owners taking on more than they could handle. If pet stores and breeders were to explain the requirements of owning such an animal to the buyer than perhaps they would know more about what they were taking on. There should also be education on matters such as having your pets fixed so they do not breed. While many people may want puppies and kittens because they’re so cute they may not have the ability to care for them when they arrive and find caring homes for them. This can be helped by education also. TV is one way to do this. We’ve all seen the commercials about buckling up, not driving drunk, and not smoking. Would it be possible to get some about proper pet care or adopting from a shelter instead of breeding if you want another pet? Of course! There are many ways to educate the public about animals and proper animal care. They just need to be done.
Animal abuse will remain a problem until it is addressed. The solutions I’ve listed are just a couple ways we can do this. I’m sure there are many more, but nothing will be done as long as no one cares and those that do stand on the sidelines. Many are battling for animal rights already and it’s time something got done. As for the answer to Jeremy Bentham’s question: “Can they suffer?” the answer is “Yes they can.”
Animal Abuse – A Problem of Understated Importance
Jeremy Bentham once said, “The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer?” There have been 1,320 cases of animal neglect and abuse recorded in the US so far this year (pet-abuse.com). This number has remained relatively consistent for the last decade. Judging by that statistic animal abuse is still a major problem and it must be addressed.
Animal abuse and neglect are both separate issues, but both need to be dealt with. Abuse is the intentional mistreatment of an animal. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter or veterinary care. However both issues are very prevalent and serious. Many of you are wondering: Why should I care? Does it really matter how animals are treated? Of course it does. For example intentional cruelty to animals can stem from psychological distress. Oftentimes people who treat animals badly may also abuse their spouses or children in the same way. Studies in psychology, criminology and sociology over the last 25 years have shown that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. Animal abuse and neglect is a national problem that should be addressed properly. In 2007, there were 1,909 cases of animal cruelty and neglect reported in the US and in 2006, there were 2,338 cases reported. It’s safe to assume that there are numerous cases every year that go unreported and unresolved. Every year hundreds of animals suffer cruelty at their owner’s and sometimes their owner’s friends and family’s hands. One example of animal neglect took place in Washington. A woman was charged after five malnourished dogs were found on her property. One of the dogs, a puppy, had been treated for mange with kerosene. In Pennsylvania a dog was poisoned in its own backyard. It was believed that something containing battery acid or rat poison was thrown over the fence. (pet-abuse.com) As is well known by animal lovers and proven by much research despite what many people may try to believe animals are very intelligent and can feel just as well as the rest of us.
The first solution I propose is stricter laws for animal abuse and neglect. Neglect may stem from ignorance, but that doesn’t make it any better than abuse. Therefore the two should be considered equally though the punishments may not be equal depending on the case. Did you know that there are no federal laws on animal abuse and neglect? It’s true. The court decision depends on the law of the state the crime was committed in. All states now have laws covering animal abuse and neglect, but the severity of the punishment varies widely be state. It is only a misdemeanor in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota. Animal abuse and neglect is a felony in all other states. The punishments vary regarding jail time and fines. For example the maximum jail time in Alabama and Louisiana is 10 years and in Mississippi and North Carolina it’s only 6 months. Another example is the maximum fines. The largest is Colorado, with $500,000, and the smallest is $1,000 in South Dakota, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These statistics show that the punishment is wildly erratic. That is why I propose that there should be federal laws regarding animal abuse. Many state laws are fairly lax regarding animal abuse. In the first example the woman was only banned from owning more than two dogs and 3 of her dogs seized including the puppy. In the second example the perpetrator was never found and brought to justice. Federal laws should at least issue a minimum for the punishment of animal abuse.
Another solution that I would like to propose is education. If owners were properly educated in animal care then perhaps there wouldn’t be as many neglect cases. Many neglect cases are the result of ignorance. Some pet owners just don’t realize that there animal requires constant access to food, water and shelter and requires veterinary care. Some people even believe that animals are more like lawn ornaments and furniture than living creatures. Therefore they must be educated that this is not true. Some of the fault lies with pet stores and breeders. They should be more careful when selling their animals to make sure they are going to owners that know about their care. Many abandoned animals are the result of owners taking on more than they could handle. If pet stores and breeders were to explain the requirements of owning such an animal to the buyer than perhaps they would know more about what they were taking on. There should also be education on matters such as having your pets fixed so they do not breed. While many people may want puppies and kittens because they’re so cute they may not have the ability to care for them when they arrive and find caring homes for them. This can be helped by education also. TV is one way to do this. We’ve all seen the commercials about buckling up, not driving drunk, and not smoking. Would it be possible to get some about proper pet care or adopting from a shelter instead of breeding if you want another pet? Of course! There are many ways to educate the public about animals and proper animal care. They just need to be done.
Animal abuse will remain a problem until it is addressed. The solutions I’ve listed are just a couple ways we can do this. I’m sure there are many more, but nothing will be done as long as no one cares and those that do stand on the sidelines. Many are battling for animal rights already and it’s time something got done. As for the answer to Jeremy Bentham’s question: “Can they suffer?” the answer is “Yes they can.”