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Animal HoardingAnimal hoarding occurs when someone owns an excessively high number of animals while lacking the ability to properly care for them all. Often times, hoarders don't recognize that they are hoarding, and deny that there's a problem. Hoarding can be linked to mental illnesses, rather than intent to abuse an animal. About 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding every year. These animals would have been underfed, without proper shelter or room, medicinal care, or love. 72% of hoarders are women with an excess of cats. Many of the cases from repeat offenders who have the same problem more than once. 100% of these cases are avoidable, as long as people stop biting off more than they can chew.
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Illegal Animal TestingAnimal testing is illegal in most of the European Nation, Israel, India, and Norway. Generally, animals are tested on for aeronautics, automobiles, military, and cosmetic purposes. It is illegal in the US, but that doesn't stop countless cosmetic companies to test in other countries and sell their products here. Many cosmetic companies individually test on animals in inhumane ways, such as Draize testing. A Draize test causes irritation or corrosion to an animal's skin or eyes, dermal or airway sensitization, or death to those given a lethal dose. There are alternatives that are more reliable, effective, and humane, like in virto, or artificial human skin.
Illegal Meat/Fur TradeIn Thailand, the illegal dog meat trade surges tens of thousands of dogs to neighboring countries in appalling, inhumane conditions. The Soi Dog Foundation is actively working to cut off the trade by passing animal welfare laws in Thailand. Many of the animals are skinned alive and other (luckier) ones suffocate to death far before they leave Thailand.
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NeglectBasic Neglect is one of the most common forms of animal abuse. Neglect isn't always intentional, but it is definitely avoidable. Neglect occurs when an animals basic needs aren't met, whereas abuse occurs when an animal is mistreated in any way, like being injured or beaten versus being underfed. 70 million stray cats wonder around the US. There are only about 13,600 estimated shelters worldwide, meaning that each shelter would have to take 5, 150 cats to provide a home for cats. Add dogs, horses, and birds to the picture and you're looking at over 15,000 animals in each shelter. In this world, there is never enough, especially to those who can't speak up against their poverty.
AbuseAbuse covers all of the forms described above. Any mistreatment of an animal is considered abuse. Intentional or not, animal abuse is a grotesque misuse of life, and is something that is nearly unforgivable. There is however, a difference between abuse and dealing your animal consequences. If your dog poops in your house and receives a swat on the bottom (not enough to actually leave damage), then that's just teaching the animal right versus wrong. If the animal is beaten in a way that it receives actual damage and long-lasting pain, then that is considered abuse.
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