Samantha Martinez
What Is Animal Abuse and Why Does It Happen?
An Annotated Bibliography
Critical Preface
Animal abuse has been a relevant tragedy throughout history; even in today's society many animals, from household pets to animals that roam free, are victims to abuse. There are many forms of animal abuse, some of which are less recognized then others. Animals are used and abused every day, and many people have turned a blind eye to these events. However, another important aspect about animal abuse is the people who abuse them. The way those people behave and interact the people and their environment are also affected by animal abuse. In this research paper, I have set out to explore the following questions: what is animal abuse? What are different types of animal abuse? Why do people abuse of animals? These questions are important because they question the fundamental idea of animal abuse and seeks a further understanding of why it occurs.
I conducted this research over several weeks in February 2018. Within my research paper, a variety of sources were included: two journals, 4 newspapers, and two newsmagazines. All of the newspapers and newsmagazines include detailed examples of animal abuse in the state of Florida, many of them cover a different type of animal abuse. This allows me to broaden the topic and explain how each event showcases a certain type of animal abuse. One of the journal, written by Gullone, reviews different theories related to animal abuse, including its possible link to domestic violence, human aggression, and antisocial behavior. Another journal by Perdue and Lockwood gives the history of dogfighting, it also provides logical connections to criminal activity. Ultimately, these sources allowed me to develop an interesting perspective on what could be considered animal abuse and allowed me to draw connections with certain behaviors.
References
Conti, A. (2016, May 24). Illegal Slaughterhouse Also Home to Religious Animal Sacrifices, Activist Says. Retrieved from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/illegal-slaughterhouse-also-home-to-religious-animal-sacrifices-activist-says-6554015
This magazine article presents both sides of the argument relating animal abuse and religious sacrifices, it acknowledges both points of view. Conti's main focus is of an illegal slaughterhouse that has been linked to an Afro-Caribbean religion, Palo Mayombe. The slaughterhouse was infiltrated by Richard Couto's Animal Rescue Mission Team. The team found that the animals were being treated inhumanely, and they butchered the animals to then feed the remains to the other animals. Couto came across a room with burning candles, dolls, bloody statues, money, and even animal heads. The article however does acknowledge that Couto's perspective of this religion is one sided, a religious professor claims that all religion has some sort of sacrifice, hence all religion has a dark side. This article makes good material for a debate on whether or not religious sacrifice should still be classified under animal abuse, it also brings into perspective a type of animal abuse which is well known in South Florida.
EXPOSED! The Miami Seaquarium: Cruel Animal Shows Must Stop! (2014, September 30). Retrieved from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/exposed-the-miami-seaquarium-cruel-animal-shows-must-stop/
This magazine article discusses the animal abuse that can occur within aquariums, the Miami Seaqurium to be exact; intended call to action other animal right activists that would pay attention to the situation presented. The article talks about the marine mammals in Miami Seaquarium, including whales, dolphins, sea lions and manatees. It explains the cruelty of taking these animals from the wild and then forcing them into spaces that are not wide enough for full growth and forced to perform. The arguments are supported by extensive logos and examples of marine mammals that have been held in captivity. The source is good because it comes from an organization, One Green Planet, that actively defend this planet and its animals, it also serves as a form of animal abuse that does not occur in the everyday household.
Gullone, E. (2014). An Evaluative Review of Theories Related to Animal Cruelty. Journal of Animal Ethics, 4(1), 37-57. doi:10.5406/janimalethics.4.1.0037
This journal reviews the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence, human aggression, and antisocial behavior. Gullone explains the different definitions of animal abuse and then presents two theoretical perspectives of animal abuse, which include the violence graduation hypothesis(VGH) and the deviance generalization hypothesis(DGH). VGH theorizes that animal cruelty is a way to rehearse violence that will later be directed to human, while DGH is the relationship found between animal cruelty and both criminality and domestic violence. Gullone also points out the link between bullying behaviors and animal cruelty, explaining the similarities in in definition and explaining how a bully/ victim might be involved in a case of animal cruelty. This journal provides logical arguments as to how animal abuse can be linked to other antisocial behavior and give an interesting perspective on why this occurs.
Ovalle, D. (2016, March 6). Operator of Miami illegal slaughterhouse to challenge animal-cruelty law. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article64433492.html
This newspaper article covers the details involving the treatment of alive pigs in a Miami slaughterhouse. The article talks about the South Florida Hispanic culture, mentioning the large impact pigs are for the Miami dinner table. However, in this case the pigs are being beaten, starved, stabbed and in some instances boiled alive. Ovalle mentions quotes from the defense lawyer who claims these inhumane acts are implied when slaughterhouses where designed, he also compares a chief boiling a lobster to a farmer boiling a pig. Yet, while slaughterhouses are made for the killing of animals, it is intended that the animals are killed humanely, while following the health and handling standards. This article helps aid the argument that animal abuse in the industrial farming industry in South Florida have escalated throughout the years.
Perdue, A., & Lockwood, R. (2014). Dogfighting in America: A Historical and Sociolegal Perspective. In Animal Cruelty and Freedom of Speech: When Worlds Collide (pp. 11-16). Purdue University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.fiu.edu/stable/j.ctt6wq2b8.7
This journal addresses dogfighting in America, tracing its history through the discovery and legal punishments for dogfights and addressing the sociological perspective. The authors explain dogfighting to be a gateway crime, especially for many juvenile offenders. Dogfighting gives the offenders a sense of power and control from making aggressive dogs fight for their entertainment, it also gives certain people thrill and satisfaction from potential monetary gain. The journal explains how dogfighting is a major felony and that anyone connected to it will face major consequences due to the increase in police involvement. This source would serve well as a background to dogfighting, a form of animal abuse, which will support the article on the Putnam case from Putman county; it also provides a logical connection between dogfighting and criminal activity.
Perdue, A., & Lockwood, R. (2014). Showcasing Animal Abuse: Regulating Media Depictions of Animal Cruelty. In Animal Cruelty and Freedom of Speech: When Worlds Collide (pp. 17-24). Purdue University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.fiu.edu/stable/j.ctt6wq2b8.8
This book uses pathos and logos to inform the public about the different forms of animal abuse depicted in the media. Perdue and Lockwood address the progression of animal abuse within the media, especially films, including a variety of examples of how films have incorporated or participated in animal abuse; it speaks of "natures fakers" which put animals in a risky situation or cause the animals death for pure education and entertainment. It also shows how the media brings awareness to the wide range of the forms of animal abuse. This source provides good examples that could be used to depict how common animal abuse can be and how over looked it can be when used in films, also it maps the American Humane Association interaction with films that involve animals.
Rabin, C. (2017, July 3). His excuse for hogtying 3 endangered Key deer in car: I wanted to take a picture with them. Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article159440604.html
This newspaper article reports the illegal and inhumane event that has occurred to three endangered Key deer's. An officer found three endangered deer tied up and hurt in the back of a car he had pulled over. From eye witnesses, the deer had been seen with many injures, which are presumably from the deer trashing in tight spaces. Damas Acosta explained he had done this because he wanted to take pictures with the protected animals, while Tumani Younge claims to have been asleep throughout the entire event and has nothing to do with their apprehension. This article gives a good example of someone who has abused animals and someone who has ignored their suffering, it also serves to emphasize the cruelty that animals must ender for childish reasons.
Staletovich, J. (2017). Butchered shark fins seized from shrimp boat off Key West. Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article142029049.html
This newspaper article reports the illegal finning activity that occurred, and presumably still occurs, in Key West, Florida. Staletovich explains how many sharks fall victim to finning, on this occurrence and on a global scale, and explains the manner in which they are disposed of. The article mentions how the killing of these shark's effects other fish population, it also briefly mentions overfishing. Despite the fact that finning is illegal, this moment serves to show how it is still occurring in Florida waters. This article is a good example of a type of animal abuse that is typically overlooked, many times animal abuse is directed towards house pets, however, that is not always the case.
Stepzinski, T. (2017, February 04). Putnam case exposes brutal crime of dog fighting. Retrieved from http://www.jacksonville.com/news/2017-02-04/putnam-case-exposes-brutal-crime-dog-fighting?start=2
This magazine article revolves around the Putman case of dogfighting, its purpose is to inform the public about a local dogfight bust and serves as a warning for future occurrences as it mentions the consequences. Stepzinski addresses the widespread of dogfighting not only in Florida but all over the world. She mentions the case and the conditions to which the police were informed of the crime being committed and the case following, however, she mentions a study done by the Humane Society which says due to the increase in penalties and monitoring of dogfighting the numbers have been estimated to have dropped in recent years. This article will complement the Dog fighting in America book, as it explains the relevance of dogfighting in modern times and serves as an example vicious animal abuse.
Undercover Video Alleges More Animal Abuse at Another Florida Dairy Farm. (2017, November 16). Retrieved from http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/11/16/undercover-video-animal-abuse-florida-dairy-farm/
This newspaper article illustrates the abusive behavior that can be inflicted on animals in industrial animal farming centers, in this case a dairy farm. The article revolves around the discovery of a very well-known farm in South Florida, Burnham Dairy Farm, abusing and neglecting the cows on the farm. The abusive behavior of this farm was caught on video by an undercover investigator, Couto, who has worked on investigating multiple cases of animal abuse all over the world. The cows were treated inhumanely as they were wiped, beaten and harassed, leaving sick and dying, or dead, cows scattered throughout the property. This source is good because it shows a side on animal abuse that many people do not recognize.