Animal Cruelty

    Animal cruelty is a growing problem in America. Now, in these difficult times, depression and negative mindsets cause many people to act violently towards those closest to them, including their pets.  The potential to commit crimes such as animal abuse, child abuse, and other forms of domestic violence typically begins when a person is being raised.  Because of this, it is important, as always, for children to be raised in a caring, loving home, so that they learn to redistribute that kindness to others, as well.  Recent studies also show that adults who abuse family members and other people in their lives have a history of committing acts of animal cruelty.     However, animal cruelty is not always in the form of violent acts.  Neglect is also very common, and innumerable pet owners fail to provide their pets with adequate amounts of food and water. Because of this, the animals quickly become malnurished, and develop life-threatening diseases and conditions.  Seemingly harmless owners are found often to have emaciated, unclean, sickly, and/or flea and tick infested pets.  A situation such as this arises, many times, when a person has multiple animals in his or her possession.  Over one hundred dogs and cats have even been found in several homes, all in horrific, unbearable conditions.  The act of owning an unhealthy amount of animals is known as "animal hoarding," and is, often times, against state and town laws. These laws allow for only up to a set number of one species of animal to reside in a home, without a breeding license.  Unresponsible pet breeders have also become a problem in the United States.  These breeders, that own facilities known as "puppy mills," breed female dogs relentlessly, until they are either too old or too sickly to produce offspring.  Many dogs are also inbred (dogs that are related are bred together) and deformed puppies, as well as puppies that are more likely to develop deadly conditions later in life, are produced.


   If you witness an act of animal cruelty, please call your local animal control officer.  The Rhode Island SPCA only has one law enforcement agent, and cannot handle every case on its own.  However, if, for whatever reason, local law enforcement cannot be contacted, please contact the Rhode Island SPCA. Telephone- (401)-438-8150 Email- [email protected] Address- 186 Amaral St., Riverside, RI, 02915