Animal abuse: helping animals and people

Abstract

Abstract In this book the author brings together several years of research on animal abuse, as well as including contributions from key workers in this field, such as in cases involving animal abuse, forensic investigation, welfare of wildlife animals. Case studies provide the detail to keep the reader closely in touch with the real world, and interviews with key people provide an intensely personal experience of abuse. Emphasized are the role of veterinarians which can make a difference by having a critical eye to detect and report animal abuse, giving them a central role and responsibility in managing abuse cases. The vital function that animal cruelty organizations fulfil is also recognized. With many terms in this area being emotive, The author used her scientific background to first define and then confine her discussions to her clear understanding of these terms. Abuse is described in relation to the uses of animals by humans that are most commonly found in the Western world. This is entirely logical because as the many instances of abuse in provision of food and fibre for humans are presented, it becomes only too clear that humans are selfish individuals, tolerating cruelty far more readily when we have something to gain from it. Also included are sections dealing with less common forms of abuse, from bear baiting to bestiality. The book has 250 pages including an index and appendices it is divided into six parts namely animal abuse : defining the problem, animal abuse in culture and society, animal abuse: the human aspect-helping the people involved, animal abuse: the animal side -helping the animals involved, the science of animal abuse; veterinary forensic investigation, and interviews with people who work with animal abuse.