Animal cruelty happens all over the world on a daily basis. Animals are abused in a variety of situations, including animal experimentation, in the entertainment industry and from neglect. Those who love animals cannot comprehend why some people would do such a thing. This travesty is so broad that one explanation is not possible. However, two forms of cruelty do exist, and understanding these can help a person to understand and hopefully aid the four legged creatures that suffer.

One of the most common types of animal cruelty is that of passive cruelty or cruelty by omission. This is a crime of neglect and does not involve a negative, physical assault to the animal. For animals, this can be a devastating form of cruelty. They can suffer neglect due to parasites, starvation, dehydration and inadequate shelter. This is a serious form of cruelty, which if left unnoticed, can mean a death sentence for the creature.

The opposite of passive cruelty is active cruelty to animals. This is when an individual deliberately and with intent causes physical harm to an animal. Those who display these acts of commission, as they may also be called, usually suffer from severe psychological issues. If a child displays this behavior at any time, then a parent should seek immediate help. These occurrences have been linked to sociopathic behavior and can become worse as the child reaches adult life. As well, this type of cruelty often happens in an abusive home. In a union between humans, often an abusive partner will abuse the family pet for revenge.

Animal cruelty is one thing that can be stopped if individuals will only take the first step. Through education, people can learn about the types of cruelty and how to stop it from happening. Animal abuse will not be stopped or contained in one day. However, if we, as a collective community, can become active in helping the animals that are mistreated, then perhaps one day we can put an end to this epidemic. All it takes is education and becoming involved in just a small way. One person can really make a difference in the life of an animal.