The Role of Animal Welfare Agencies in Their Communities
VBC Seminar for Spring Semester 2012
Dr. Merrielle Turnbull, Department of English
Project Description:
Animal abuse or animal negligence can sometimes be due to intentional harm by a human. This is a serious matter that social workers and criminal justice professionals are addressing across the nation. Animal abuse may have a relationship to human abuse and social workers and psychologists have discussed the link between children who abuse animals and later commit domestic violence, suggesting a “progression thesis” that has been supported through case studies of animal abusers. Clearly, intentional animal abuse is a serious issue.
Unintentional harm is the other side of the abuse spectrum. In some cases, pet owners are simply ignorant of what is involved with the proper care for their animals. Others may be just following patterns set by their own families; for example, those who had a dog chained in the back yard all its life when they were growing up may see this as appropriate pet care. Being unaware of the long-term consequences of not neutering one’s barn cats is another issue that may be explained by being uninformed.
Having a “pet problem” isn’t confined to the individual owner. A neglected dog who barks all night or a cat who has two litters of kittens a year affects the neighborhood, and ultimately, the community. Animal control may be involved with unwanted strays or confronting owners who neglect their pets. In severe cases, such as animal hoarding, social workers and legal authorities may need to step in to remove the pets, provide mental health services, and in severe cases, actually have to condemn properties.
Education, then, is one way to combat misinformation or incorrect information that some have about their responsibilities as pet owners. Animal shelters hold a position in communities that is often over-looked, but they can serve as advocates of animal well-being as well as educators. In light of these issues, I feel students would benefit from the opportunity to explore the issues of animal neglect and abuse as well as responsible pet ownership by developing materials to benefit the educational goals of animal welfare organizations.
Dr. Merrielle Turnbull, Department of English
Project Description:
Animal abuse or animal negligence can sometimes be due to intentional harm by a human. This is a serious matter that social workers and criminal justice professionals are addressing across the nation. Animal abuse may have a relationship to human abuse and social workers and psychologists have discussed the link between children who abuse animals and later commit domestic violence, suggesting a “progression thesis” that has been supported through case studies of animal abusers. Clearly, intentional animal abuse is a serious issue.
Unintentional harm is the other side of the abuse spectrum. In some cases, pet owners are simply ignorant of what is involved with the proper care for their animals. Others may be just following patterns set by their own families; for example, those who had a dog chained in the back yard all its life when they were growing up may see this as appropriate pet care. Being unaware of the long-term consequences of not neutering one’s barn cats is another issue that may be explained by being uninformed.
Having a “pet problem” isn’t confined to the individual owner. A neglected dog who barks all night or a cat who has two litters of kittens a year affects the neighborhood, and ultimately, the community. Animal control may be involved with unwanted strays or confronting owners who neglect their pets. In severe cases, such as animal hoarding, social workers and legal authorities may need to step in to remove the pets, provide mental health services, and in severe cases, actually have to condemn properties.
Education, then, is one way to combat misinformation or incorrect information that some have about their responsibilities as pet owners. Animal shelters hold a position in communities that is often over-looked, but they can serve as advocates of animal well-being as well as educators. In light of these issues, I feel students would benefit from the opportunity to explore the issues of animal neglect and abuse as well as responsible pet ownership by developing materials to benefit the educational goals of animal welfare organizations.