Animal Cruelty Response

In response to Guadalupes’ blog post about animal cruelty and how it is punished I’d like to say that I agree completely. All animals should be treated with the utmost respect and care. Hurting a living thing that can’t defend itself is not just wrong but morally disgusting. I believe that animal cruelty should be something that is taken seriously as child abuse. Animals are beings that mean so much to people. Domesticated animals build a bond with their owner that can never be broken. I’ve seen news stories about how animals risk their lives to save members of their families from fires, floods, and even armed home invasions. Animals who risk their lives for us deserve families and owners that would do the same for them. I feel that people with violent tendencies should be blacklisted from owning pets. Back to my opinion of animal cruelty being treated the same as child abuse. Punishments should be harsher for people who commit violent acts towards animals. States should push for harder laws that prohibit the abuse of ANY animal. I also believe that these laws should be enforced by law enforcement officers at a higher priority. Fear of punishment is one the best deterrents for any crime. Animals are beings that cannot give consent. Animals can’t speak. Animals are helpless and they should be taken care with the highest degree of respect. I personally think if a person stoops low enough to hurt an animal they should face the highest degree of the law. Animal cruelty is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly it should be taken just as seriously as an abuse of a child.