Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-human animal. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievement, such as killing animals for entertainment; cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering as an end in itself, defined as zoosadism.
We become cruel towards animals for two reasons- one to fulfill our needs and other for fun. We use animals for their fur, their skin, their meat, their teeth and their horns too. Sometimes we apply colours to them which harms their skin, we also burst crackers even without thinking about them. Sometimes, the tea-shop keeper pours the hot water on the street dogs, which is a great example of cruel behaviour towards the animals.
Treating animals with love and compassion is the moral duty of every individual. However, we often fail to fulfil this duty. Instances of animal cruelty are in abundance in our society. Poachers mercilessly kill animals for their skin, fur and teeth. This has led to the extinction of several species of animals which, in turn, has affected the ecological balance of our planet.
Some families buy exotic pets without any knowledge of how to care for them. This leads to neglect of pets, which further leads to them getting abandoned on the streets. This results in increase of stray animals that are subjected to all kinds of intentional cruelty.
Several companies use animals for testing medicines and cosmetics. Similarly, animals are often ill-treated and forced into performing circus tricks and other activities for our entertainment.
The only way to take animals off the streets is by creating proper animal shelters where they’d be provided with food. Also, creating effective awareness is necessary.