Animals Abuse: Laws & Standards

1. For animal rights advocates, the term "animal abuse" refers to any use or treatment of animals that seems unnecessarily cruel, regardless of whether the act is against the law. For others, the distinction between "animal abuse" and "animal cruelty" depends on the abuser's intent and their view of their own actions. Veterinarian and animal rights activist Catherine Tiplady says abuse "has been defined as misuse or maltreatment" while cruelty has been described "as indifference or pleasure in another's pain."

Animal Abuse Standards

1.  The term "animal abuse" may be used to describe violent or neglectful actions against all kinds of animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife, but from a legal perspective, an animal's relationship to humans also matters. Wildlife or pets will likely have more legal protections than farmed animals under many state laws. If cats, dogs, or mountain lions were mistreated in the same way that many cows, pigs, and chickens on factory farms are, the perpetrators would likely be convicted of animal cruelty. Many animal rights activists oppose not only animal abuse and animal cruelty, but any use of animals by humans. This can include animals displayed for entertainment or used for recreation in addition to those raised to be food. For many animal rights activists, the issue is not about abuse or cruelty; it's about domination and oppression, about using animals for any human need no matter how well the animals are treated, no matter how big the cages are, and no matter how much anesthesia they are given before painful procedures.
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   •  Many animal rights activists oppose not only animal abuse and animal cruelty, but any use of animals by humans. This can include animals displayed for entertainment or used for recreation in addition to those raised to be food. For many animal rights activists, the issue is not about abuse or cruelty; it's about domination and oppression, about using animals for any human need no matter how well the animals are treated, no matter how big the cages are, and no matter how much anesthesia they are given before painful procedures.           
   • Laws Against Animal Cruelty 
2. The legal definition of "animal cruelty" varies from state to state, as do the penalties and punishments. Most states have exemptions for wildlife, animals in laboratories, and common agricultural practices, such as debeaking or castration. Some states exempt rodeos, zoos, circuses, and pest control. Others may have separate laws banning practices like cockfighting, dogfighting, or horse slaughter.
3. Source: Treehugger.com