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Animal cruelty laws vary from country to country and define activities deemed illegal, with penalties including fines, jail time, and community service. Governments have different views on animal cruelty laws, but many argue that cruelty to animals is inherently wrong and can lead to other criminal behaviors. These laws tend to provide more protection for pets and companion animals, and may cover topics like working conditions and hoarding. Animal welfare concerns began in the 19th century, and several nations passed animal cruelty laws before laws addressing child abuse.
Animal cruelty laws are laws that criminalize cruelty to animals. The strength of animal cruelty law varies considerably from country to country, as does the definition of “cruelty” and the thinking about which animals should be covered by such laws. These laws define activities deemed illegal and may also provide sentencing guidelines that are intended to provide guidance in the event someone is convicted of animal cruelty.
The history of animal welfare concerns began relatively recently in human history. It wasn’t until the 19th century that people began seriously campaigning for legal animal protection, and governments began passing animal cruelty laws in response. It is sobering to note that several nations passed animal cruelty laws before passing laws addressing child abuse.
Governments adopt a variety of views on animal cruelty laws. Many animal welfare advocates argue that cruelty to animals is inherently wrong because it involves abusing another living thing. Others point out that in addition to this problem, people who are cruel to animals are also more likely to engage in other criminal behaviors. There is a clear link, for example, between animal abuse and domestic violence, as research by the Humane Society of the United States has found.
The purpose of animal cruelty laws is to define cruelty, including physical abuse and neglect, and to define specific conditions that are deemed dangerous or cruel to animals. For example, some countries have passed laws prescribing a certain amount of space available for animals raised for food and for animal products such as cheese. If the animals are confined in spaces smaller than those required by law, their keepers will be subject to penalties. Other animal cruelty laws may cover things like working conditions for working animals like carriage horses and racing greyhounds, along with topics like hoarding, a psychological disorder that can lead people to stockpile animals in unsafe conditions .
Animal cruelty laws tend to provide more aggressive protections for pets and companion animals such as horses, cats and dogs, as opposed to animals raised for food such as cows, pigs and chickens. Under the law, people who abuse or neglect animals can be subject to fines, jail time and community service. Animal cruelty laws also usually provide a mechanism for confiscating animals in abusive situations, allowing animal welfare organizations and agencies to intervene in cruelty cases.
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