*HAND ROUND BOTH RSPCA ADVERTS*
They concern the RSPCA’s intention of encouraging the government to pass a law allowing them to prosecute cases where an animal is suffering and is basically dying, because for some reason they are not allowed to prosecute until the animal is actually dead. If you read the bottom of the advert, it explains ways of contacting the government and helping the RSPCA to get this law passed so they can do their job more thoroughly. I hope that you will take note of these adverts and be compelled to help the RSPCA.
Much UK animal welfare legislation has come about due to the RSPCA campaigning, and the RSPCA’s law-reforming origins are an important element of its work today. But has it really changed the public opinion of animals and animal cruelty?
The fact that Britain needs a society campaigning for animal welfare is an interesting one. What does it say about Britain and its treatment of animals? Every 20 seconds someone somewhere in Britain and Wales telephones the RSPCA’s national cruelty and advice line for help, and in 2002 the RSPCA removed 183, 609 animals from danger or abuse. But who knows what goes on behind closed doors?
Animal abuse and cruelty is defined as behaviour that is harmful to animals. It includes unintentional neglect, intentional abuse and malicious killing. While unintentional neglect can often be solved through education, intentional harm to animals may be a sign of psychological disorders that may escalate to violence towards humans in the future. Indeed, many psychologists say serial killers and child abusers often have evidence of a history of mistreating animals.
A link has been found between the treatment of animals and treatment of children. Because children and animals are easy to hurt they are often targets of abuse. If animals are being harmed in the home, it is usually a sign that children are also at risk. Research has shown that men who attack their female partners and children may try to exert more control by harming or killing animals, or threatening to do so. Further research shows that children who are cruel to animals themselves, or witness other people being cruel to animals may become desensitised to violence in adulthood, leading to them committing various crimes in the future.
The RSPCA is currently launching a new educational resource aimed at young offenders who have harmed animals. It intends to prevent repeat offending by encouraging the youths to ‘empathise’ with animals. This will hopefully be saving the lives of people in the future, as well as animals.
Cruelty to animals is seen as a symptom of disease. Most professional psychologists agree that animal abuse is not just the result of a personality flaw in the abuser but a symptom of a deeply disturbed family. A person who hurts an animal generally feels powerless and vents their frustration on animals that can’t defend themselves. Cruelty to animals is usually one of the earliest reported signs of conduct disorder, appearing as young as 6 and a half years of age, and it is one of the better diagnostic indicators of a psychopathic personality.
A recent report by the RSPCA showed that the number of animals that needed rescuing last year had risen by 16%. The RSPCA said that it was most alarmed by the assertions of some survey respondents who claimed that deliberate cruelty to animals was a normal stage in growing up. More than half of the young people surveyed had first hand knowledge of harming animals. Researchers noted that the reasons for deliberately harming animals are complex, but they are often results of feelings of vengeance or curiosity. They also identified peer pressure and the influence of adult behaviour on young people as significant factors. Boys were said to be more likely than girls to commit acts of cruelty, and cats and dogs were the most common victims. Because of reality TV shows such as ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ where the contestants take part in trials involving eating live animals and so on, the RSPCA believes that the public is becoming desensitised towards animals and beginning to think that it is acceptable. It is this ignorance that the RSPCA is trying to deal with.
You may have received forwards in your email accounts about a website specialising in ‘Bonsai Kittens’. Have any of you been on the site? This is what it is about.
*HAND OUT BONSAI KITTEN SHEETS*
I find this truly sickening. Basically, what is it about is inserting a kitten into a box or jar when the bones are still soft and flexible and leaving the kitten to grow whilst in the jar so that when it is taken out of the container it has taken on the shape of the box or jar. The methods used to insert the kitten and keep it alive are horrific. The kitten is given muscle relaxant or drugs prior to insertion and then shoved inside using a shoe horn. Super glue is used to seal the kitten’s anus and a tube is then forced inside the kitten in order to remove any if the animal’s waste whilst it is in the jar. Another tube is forced inside the kitten’s mouth so that it can be fed liquid food slurry to keep it alive. The kitten is expected to breath through air-holes. The most appalling thing about this whole thing is that you can obtain ‘Bonsai Kitticulture’ permits from the U.S. government in order to be able to do this.
I conclude that, although the general attitude towards animals has improved since the 19th century, as people today realise that animals have feelings too and deserve love and respect just as any human would, there have recently been some horrific cases of animal cruelty in Britain that does show how sick-minded and regardless people can be sometimes. It is good that we do have charities such as the RSPCA that work hard for animals, as opposed to some countries such as Spain that still hold bullfights and other events that kill animals just for fun. It would not be possible to eradicate animal cruelty totally, but I feel that we have come a long way since the 19th century and are better than some countries abroad in our treatment of animals.
