Animal Cruelty is a continuing problem that grows each and every day. Animal cruelty is any inhumane or violent act towards any animal. Cruelty does not just pertain to physical abuse; neglect is also a form of abuse. To improve the treatment of animals it is necessary that animal cruelty becomes a felony offense. Although some states have made the transition of making animal cruelty a felony, there are still some states where the cruelty charge on carries a misdemeanor charge.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1866, modeled after the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Great Britain. The ASPCA became the first humane organization in the United States. Their programs include humane education in elementary and secondary schools; animal cruelty law enforcement in New York State; and legislative efforts at local, state, and federal levels. The ASPCA also operates a full service veterinary hospital and adoption program at their headquarters. The first effective New York animal anti-cruelty law was passed after the ASPCA convinced the state legislature that it was needed.

History shows that repeat animal cruelty offender

More recently, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two Columbine High School students who shot and killed 12 classmates before turning guns on themselves, bragged about mutilating animals to their friends. According to Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, director of the Child Study Center at New York University, "There is a common theme to all of the shootings of recent years, you have a child who has symptoms of aggression towards his peers, an interest in fire, cruelty to animals, social isolation, and many warning signs that the school has ignored." Anthropologist Margaret Mead also adds, "One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it."

Although some states still have acts of animal cruelty as a misdemeanor crime, most states now carry a felony charge with this crime. In the states that only carry a misdemeanor charge the second offense usually ends with a felonious charge. Hopefully in the near future all states will carry the felony charge for animal cruelty offenses. With all the evidence that shows that animal cruelty is only the beginning of a series of abuse how can we keep letting these people get away with it? If we can possibly stop this person

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