What is Animal Neglect?
First and foremost, I will state unequivocally there are abused and neglected animals in this world. We can all agree the emaciated, mangy dog is neglected, the person beating an animal is abusing it those are obvious and unquestionable. But what about other things? Where does neglect start? So what is neglect? Well I am sure you have an opinion, but your opinion is just that- not a legal guideline, but in the current climate, your opinion obviously can result in the complete ruin of another person's life. How do you make a law that says exactly what constitutes neglect?
In many raids lately the words deplorable conditions have been used. What is deplorable conditions? To some that may mean shoes left out of place or junk mail on the dinning room table to others it would have to be a veritable junkyard to be considered deplorable. My mother could not stand a single thing out of place my hubby's mother could have auditioned for a spot on HOARDERS. It is a matter of opinion. In other raids there are claims of too long toenails (how long exactly is too long?), no food accessible, (most of us feed once or twice a day) moulting fur ( it is summer and 100degrees for petes sake) dirty feed bowls ( the stain in on the OUTSIDE!) All these things are a matter of opinion not a measurable standard. The law is not clear on any of these issues and leaves it up to the people conducting the raid to quantify the conditions. These people usually have a vested interest in making the animal owner look as bad as possible.
Intake picture of a pony at a rescue
Photo credit:
Anne Marie Duhon
Groups like PETA and HSUS are wizards at making the general public see what they want you to see to increase their donations. There have been several cases over the course of the past year that the person is being put out of business by a legal charge of neglect while being portrayed as a serial killing psychopath cruelly mistreating animals. When the facts of the case boils down to a dirty water bowl, long toenails, or dirty teeth. Very few raids lately have involved any obvious abuse and neglect like emaciated animals, dead animals, animals with body parts falling off. Things like that that are unquestionably abuse. Things we all would agree is abuse. Even when vets and other experts disagree with the abuse PETA and HSUS push their opinion that the animals have been abused and whip up a frenzy of hatred by the public on media sites to vilify the owner.
A good guideline could be illness or death but by then it is too late so how do you decide when just when the owner becomes neglectful? What about the "neglect" perpetrated by groups when they tell others how to care for common illnesses in animals without contacting a vet? That is neglect waiting to happen if not worse.
So how to decide if it is really neglect? Using common sense would be a good start. There are already laws on the books that define obvious abuse like torturing or maiming or starving an animal but for the other things like too long toenails, stains on the food bowl or not having access to food or water 24/7maybe people need to quit thinking of a perfect world and start thinking of reality. Sometimes owners get tired, sick, busy and skip trimming nails, grooming or sterilizing the water dish. Is it REALLY hurting the animal enough to make it a reason to seize the animals, arrest the person, and destroy their lives and the lives of the animals?
In many raids lately the words deplorable conditions have been used. What is deplorable conditions? To some that may mean shoes left out of place or junk mail on the dinning room table to others it would have to be a veritable junkyard to be considered deplorable. My mother could not stand a single thing out of place my hubby's mother could have auditioned for a spot on HOARDERS. It is a matter of opinion. In other raids there are claims of too long toenails (how long exactly is too long?), no food accessible, (most of us feed once or twice a day) moulting fur ( it is summer and 100degrees for petes sake) dirty feed bowls ( the stain in on the OUTSIDE!) All these things are a matter of opinion not a measurable standard. The law is not clear on any of these issues and leaves it up to the people conducting the raid to quantify the conditions. These people usually have a vested interest in making the animal owner look as bad as possible.
Intake picture of a pony at a rescue
Photo credit:
Anne Marie Duhon
Groups like PETA and HSUS are wizards at making the general public see what they want you to see to increase their donations. There have been several cases over the course of the past year that the person is being put out of business by a legal charge of neglect while being portrayed as a serial killing psychopath cruelly mistreating animals. When the facts of the case boils down to a dirty water bowl, long toenails, or dirty teeth. Very few raids lately have involved any obvious abuse and neglect like emaciated animals, dead animals, animals with body parts falling off. Things like that that are unquestionably abuse. Things we all would agree is abuse. Even when vets and other experts disagree with the abuse PETA and HSUS push their opinion that the animals have been abused and whip up a frenzy of hatred by the public on media sites to vilify the owner.
A good guideline could be illness or death but by then it is too late so how do you decide when just when the owner becomes neglectful? What about the "neglect" perpetrated by groups when they tell others how to care for common illnesses in animals without contacting a vet? That is neglect waiting to happen if not worse.
So how to decide if it is really neglect? Using common sense would be a good start. There are already laws on the books that define obvious abuse like torturing or maiming or starving an animal but for the other things like too long toenails, stains on the food bowl or not having access to food or water 24/7maybe people need to quit thinking of a perfect world and start thinking of reality. Sometimes owners get tired, sick, busy and skip trimming nails, grooming or sterilizing the water dish. Is it REALLY hurting the animal enough to make it a reason to seize the animals, arrest the person, and destroy their lives and the lives of the animals?