Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
This paper deals with the different manifestations of animal suffering. It discusses in
detail only five of the manifestations that we have decided depict animal cruelty the most.
Animals are living creatures and have senses; therefore, they possess the ability to feel pain.
Suffering is when an animal has a negative experience or emotion and can be expressed in
various ways, including (but not limited to): boredom, emotional maltreatment, stress, emotional
neglect, and emotional abuse. Any type of animal suffering needs to be well-documented by the
veterinarian and reported to the appropriate authorities if necessary. The degree of suffering will
ultimately help determine the level of charges filed in an animal cruelty case and can directly
impact the sentencing of the perpetrator.
Secondly, an animal can suffer from emotional maltreatment. Just like humans, animals
do have emotions and, if bad enough, emotional maltreatment can cause distress, anguish, and
suffering. Animals with long term emotional maltreatment may suffer from separation anxiety,
depression, difficulty socially interacting with other animals, or the development of illnesses
(Merck, 2011). Animals considered to suffer from emotional maltreatment are often neglected,
rejected, isolated, taunted, abandoned, or physically abused. Emotional maltreatment displays
animal suffering because any form of abuse, emotional or physical, can cause an animal pain.
stimulation; safety; security; protection from danger; sense of control; the ability to exert
meaningful change to situations; social companionship (for social animals/species); adequate
predictability and stability to life events; and sufficient living space (Merck, 2013). Below is a
picture of insufficient living space for canines, which is an example of emotional neglect and can
result in harm to the animal(s).
desertion or cessation of care for the animal. Similarly, the next category of isolation contains the
deprivation of social interaction and companionship (Merck, 2013). Finally, the sixth category
of emotional abuse is overpressuring, or excessively demanding or pressuring the animal to
perform or achieve (Merck, 2013). Additionally, elevations in heart rate, hematocrit and plasma
cortisol, progesterone, vasopressin, and beta-endorphins (Merck 2013) are all physical
consequences resulting from emotional abuse. Emotional abuse demonstrates animal suffering
because emotional and physical harm can be witnessed in the victim.
Conclusion
While there are various manifestations that can result in animal suffering, we
believe that the six aforementioned indicators (boredom, emotional maltreatment, stress,
emotional neglect, and emotional abuse) demonstrate animal suffering most frequently. It is
important to keep in mind that each animal might display symptoms of animal suffering in their
own way (possibly not mentioned herein), so veterinarians and veterinary staff should be welleducated on the symptoms and different types of suffering that can be observed in animals. Any
form of animal suffering observed should be well-documented and reported if necessary. A
thorough physical examination and subsequent assessment of the level of animal suffering will
ultimately help determine the level of charges filed against the perpetrator and can directly
impact his/her sentencing.
References
Merck, M.D. (2013). Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations. 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa:
Wiley-Blackwell.