Just How Many Need Our Help?- Animal Abuse Statistics

All over the world thousands of animals are suffering from all sorts of cruelty from human hands, but let’s take a good look at just how many animals are cruelly treated in the US alone. Keep in mind that it is only an estimate. Not all cases of animal cruelty are reported or even spotted right away. We will not just discuss about the ill treatments, but also what the government is doing about these cruel acts.

First, let us talk about the forms of cruelty inflicted upon animals. Number one is neglect. It happens when animals are not given the proper treatment that they deserve or need. Pets are prone to this type of abuse.It is not that easy to spot since most pets are kept indoors. No one goes around asking, “May I check your pets? Are you strictly following pet care measures?” 

The second form of abuse is intentional harm. This is very easy to spot and should be reported right away. This situation could cause animal lives and this treatment should be on animal abuse statistics. However, these type of record is not easy to find because there is no national reporting system on animal abuse. 

Statistics are provided by animal care organizations, but they vary from one group to another. These statistics were only based on reported cases. So, we could only wonder how many animals are truly suffering right now. Here are just some of the things I have found out:

According to the American Society for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), there are about 1,880 cases of animal abuse reported in the media, 2007. Dogs, especially pitbulls, are the most abused taking up 64.5 percent of the statistics. The second most abused animals are cats, with 18 percent of the over-all report. The remaining 25 percent is shared by different kinds of animals—birds, horses, etc. 

Although there is no national reporting system for abused animals, the government conducts measures to prevent them. There are about 50 states that have felony provisions in their animal cruelty laws, and 43 out of these 50 states have first offense provisions. Each state has different laws and provisions for acts of cruelty against animals, but every state has their own pet shelters.

There is so much to be done, and so many need our help. I know that this is disheartening but the good news is we can still do something!

Save animals without spending money

Now that we have decided on which animal welfare organization to support, I believe most of you have been thinking of helping out. Perhaps you also have pledged to fund an animal protection charity, and that’s really great. However, most of us have limited budget; so not everyone can donate to his or her preferred organization. But financial problems should not stop you from saving animals. There are actually several ways to protect and care for them without spending any money:

•  Volunteer to any animal welfare organization. Most organizations are lacking in manpower, so you are sure to be given a warm welcome should you decide to volunteer. Before volunteering, check objectives, achievements, and programs of your chosen organization/s. There are many animal welfare groups out there, and although their common ground is animal welfare, each has diverse programs and focus areas. So find the one that perfectly fits your personal beliefs and priorities.
•  Care for stray animals. First things first; be very careful when you do this. Many homeless animals are scared and possibly ill that make them unpredictable. It is likely that some may scratch or bite you. If you find one near your area, be cautious in getting close to the animal. Also, remember to talk gently to assure him/her that he/she is safe. If you can’t control the pet and it’s really impossible to take him/her home, you can help care for the animal by giving some food, and maybe create a makeshift shelter. Leave the food and water near the place where you frequently see the stray. Again, this is for those who cannot fully commit to adopting stray animals. However, if you decide to adopt the stray, call the local veterinarian so you can be given professional instructions on how to take care of your new family member.
•  Report any abuse. Call the proper authorities right away when you see an animal being abused or neglected by its owner or by anyone. Give a brief account of what you have just witnessed, but do not miss any important details like what kind of abuse the animal has been through, when and where you have witnessed this, and how many times you have seen it (if you witnessed this several times). If the animal is in immediate danger, tell the authorities right away so they can respond as soon as possible. I do not encourage you to put matters into your own hands. I know it would be very hard, but it may make things a lot worse and may also put you in danger. So, stay as calm as possible and please call the authorities right away.
•  Educate people, especially children. I believe this is one of the most effective ways of saving animals from abuse and neglect. This will definitely leave a permanent mark. The more people understand the value of life in all forms – even how small or insignificant they may look like, the more we create a safer world for everyone. When children understand at a young age why animals should be cared for, they will grow up with the initiative to love and respect all creatures.

These are just simple but practical ways that everyone can do to help stray animals. One does not need to have a huge amount of money to be able to help, although that is certainly welcome. Remember, "a small good deed even in a single day may create a very big impact in all the days of someone’s life."

The Final Choice: Pet Smart Charities or Humane Society of the United States?

As I have mentioned in my last post, I was choosing between The Humane Society of the United States and Pet Smart Charities to give my donations to. This is because I have made a pledge to donate 10 cents to a charity advocating for animal welfare every time my picture book, “Grandpa Bill and His 1000 Dogs” gets sold . Blessings should be shared, especially to those who need it the most, and I truly believe in being the voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. While there are many causes worth fighting for, animal protection is given little attention although they are no less important than any other living creatures in our planet.  

Since my pledge comes from what I made from my picture book, I naturally wanted a reliable charity which gives solid results. So I researched for top charities and cross-referenced each result. My research led me to two: The Humane Society of the United States and Pet Smart Charities. Both of these animal welfare organizations have amazing track records in promoting animal protection and well-being, so it was quite hard to come to a final decision. However, I must only choose one. Before I arrive at my final choice, let us take a look at their programs and accomplishments.

Pet Smart Society

Let us start off with the Pet Smart Society. The organization’s goal is quite straightforward – they assist beloved pets. One thing I like about this organization is that it has a specific target which they aim to help out. They operate by helping communities down to the ground. At first glance, it seems like that they operate on a small scale as they move by community action. Upon looking at their overall achievements, goals, and programs, it is clear that they have created a large impact by developing pet responsibilities and protection with the number of homes and communities they have come in contact with. They assure that each and every pet will be properly taken care of. Also, it makes everyone feel more involved in helping out.

Before you think that they just deal with pets which already have homes, they actually give more emphasis on pet homelessness. They advocate in helping out pets that may be euthanize due to homelessness. Another that caught my attention with this organization is that they give clear and honest reasons why most people do not adopt pets from shelters. I believe that once the root cause is figured out, it would be much easier to help these poor pets out as you can debunk any false perceptions about pet adoption shelters. This organization does not just stop at giving homes to these lovely creatures; they also give practical and helpful information on how to properly care for these pets. Also, they provide a financial report of all the donations they have received so one can be sure that his money will really be put to good use.

Humane Society of the United States

When I researched about this organization, I was impressed with their goals and achievements. Like the Pet Smart Society, it provides financial reports of the donations they have received. They also have programs which help out homeless pets and teach how to properly take care of these pets. But unlike Pet Smart Society, it does not just focus on helping out household pets but all animals, whether they are tame or not. It has been helping out all sorts of animals since 1954, so it comes to no wonder that it is the largest animal welfare advocate group in the US. 

The program which really caught my eye was their “Kind News” magazine which aims to educate and help kids understand and respect animals. It was clear then that they do not only wish to help out the present sufferings of animals, but also develop kids to become responsible caretakers of animals in the future. They also have this “Off Duty" staff profiles which show a peek on how their staff is truly committed and passionate in helping out animals. The most impressive thing about this organization is that they actually lobby laws for the protection of animals, and make sure that these laws are duly implemented.

The Verdict

I believe by now you understand how difficult it was to choose between these two amazing organizations. Since I cannot just toss a coin to find out which of the two I should choose, after much deliberation, I have decided to support The Humane Society of the United States. As my proceeds come from readers who love different sorts of animals, I wish to let them feel that the money they have used to buy my book has helped practically all kinds of animals. Another reason is that as someone who truly loves animals, getting their causes heard and defended in the congress increases their protection and well-being. The edge that the HSUS has over Pet Smart Society is not only its target recipient, but also its influence in the congress. If you would also like to help out one or both organizations, you can check out their websites by clicking on the links below:

The Humane Society of the United States: 

http://www.humanesociety.org/about/?credit=web_vanity_kindnews_id640668976

Pet Smart Society:

https://www.petsmartcharities.org/

Top 5 Charities Against Animal Abuse

Last week, on my birthday, I promised to donate 10 cents to a charity that promotes animal welfare every time I sold a copy of my first children's picture book, "Grandpa Bill and His 1000 Dogs." (Read:My Birthday Pledge: Help Stop Animal Abuse)

Of course, in order to do that, I need to find a trustworthy charity where I can give my small but from the heart donations. I'll be choosing from the Top Five Charities I found online. My process of picking the top charities is quite simple. First, I searched the web for the "Top 10 Charities/Organizations that Help Stop Animal Abuse." Then, I've read the top seven related Google search results:

a. Top 50 Pet Charities of 2014 - Entirely Pets - Entirely Pets Blog
b. Top-Rated Charities - Charity Ratings | America's Most ... - Charity Watch
c. 6 organizations that protect animal rights - Best Friends ... - The Christian Science Monitor
d. Charity Navigator: Animals - Charity Navigator
e. List of Organizations | Animal Charity Evaluators - Animal Charity Evaluators
f. Spotlight on Charity: The Fight Against Animal Cruelty ... - WalletHub
g. End Animal Cruelty & Fighting Campaign : The Humane ... The Humane Society of the United States

Finally, I selected the charities that appeared twice or more in the different sites' top lists. (The * asterisk stands for the number of times the charity showed up in the lists of the sites above.)

1. The Humane Society of United States **** (4) 

(Listed by Entirely Pets Blog, The Christian Science Monitor, Animal Charity Evaluators - included in the Standout Charities and WalletHub) 

Website: http://www.humanesociety.org/ - Their website is included in the top google search result for charities/organizations that fight against animal abuse/cruelty. 

Campaign: End Animal Cruelty and Fighting

Goal:  lead the way to a better future for  all animals 

2.PetSmart Charities **** (4 ) 

(Listed by Entirely Pets Blog, Charity Watch, The Christian Science Monitor and Charity Navigator -4 stars rating)

Website: https://www.petsmartcharities.org/

Campaign: We Save Pets in Your Community

Goals: help find forever homes for homeless pets, increase access to spay/neuter services key to reduce unplanned births

3. Dumb Friends League *** (3)

(Listed by Entirely Pets Blog,The Christian Science Monitor and Charity Navigator -4 stars rating)

Website: http://www.ddfl.org/

Campaign: Give a homeless animal a second chance to be loved.

Goal: offer services benefiting the animals and community

4. Best Friends Animal Society **(2)

                          

(Listed by Entirely Pets Blog and The Christian Science Monitor)

Website: http://bestfriends.org/

Campaign: Save Them All 

Goal: No Kill Mission

5. Friends of Animals ** (2)

(Listed by Entirely Pets Blog and Charity Watch)

Website: http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

Campaign: Exploiters  Friends of Animals

Goal: free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world

Now that I have the list of the top five charities that are strong advocates against animal abuse and cruelty, I need to select between the top two - The Humane Society of United States and PetSmart Charities. Which one is the better choice? Please help! 

Write your suggestions on the comment box below.

My Birthday Pledge: Help Stop Animal Abuse

Today is my birthday! This is my first blog post. How could I make this day more special? Here's how:

On this day, June 28, 2015, I sincerely promise that I will donate 10 cents to an organization or charitable institution that promotes animal welfare every time I sold a copy of my first children's picture book, "Grandpa Bill and His 1000 Dogs."

Let me start by searching for a group that is very passionate in stopping animal abuse. Any suggestions?

Please write your suggestions on the comment box below. Thanks!