They have a brain, so they feel the pain

Starved dogs on the side of roads, neglected pets, horses being electrocuted in public and so much more. People think that it’s okay, and that they are just animals. We need to bring the light to the surface. Animals are losing all trust in humans. Do we really want to break this bond between these precious animals so carelessly? If you can't afford a pet, or don’t have time for a pet, do not get one. It is for the animal's quality of life and for yours.

Starved dogs won't usually run away from their home, people dump them out on the roads because they are “useless” or “too much work”. Of course, there are some very responsible and amazing dog owners out there, but very often people buy a dog, and the dog ends up getting too expensive for them, which as a result means that the dogs don't get fed consistent meals anymore. Here is a heartwarming story of a dog called Seb, managing a beautiful recovery even though he was only hours away from death. He was rescued by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Britan when his elderly owner passed away. He was found with two other dogs in the same property where the owner had died, and the RSPCA was called by a member of the public. After being moved to the Stanhope Park Vets in Darlington, he was taken into the care of nurse Nicole Burn, who also took him into her home.

Photograph taken after Seb was rescued (Seb on Holiday with His Owner Nicole Burn.)

If you were an abused animal, would you go back to your old home? After being neglected and abused? Many dogs are lucky to dodge the next type of abuse, but many animals are still exposed to this. Tethering and chaining pets. Many owners do this unintentionally, not meaning any real harm to the animal, but chaining your pet causes immense physical and physiological damage. Animals in these situations usually become lonely, bored, depressed and mostly aggressive. These are instinctive behaviors because these animals have been unsocialized and confined to a small amount of space. Sadly, dogs are usually the most affected animals in this type of abuse because they are apparently aggressive, but this is often the owner's excuse when people accuse them of neglecting their pet. Since dogs are naturally territorial animals, when they are kept in a small space, this increases their instincts.

Which in turn, makes them become more aggressive. When confined to the backyard or length of their chain, dogs start becoming very territorial, making this small area of space theirs to defend. They then express behaviors such as snapping, biting and growling. These actions will make a human back away rapidly, but the dog is only expressing unhappiness, and that it is not enjoying their life at that moment, or in some cases, not at all. Often these types of dog owners say that it’s the dog's fault, but the only person they should blame is themselves.

When you were younger, you probably touched an electric fence, realizing just how much it hurt. Imagine being repeatedly shocked with no way out of the situation. This was sadly the case for Stacie Laine Soap’s horse at a barrel racing event held in Texas. She was using a device called a jigger (for horses). A jigger is a small device that is put in the palm of the hand, and when you press it, it shocks the horse when it touches its fur. This is clearly horse abuse, and a lot of people at the event where this happened tried to stop Stacie Soap, but she would not listen. Eventually, the police had to get her off her horse to stop her injuring it. In the picture below you can see that she is putting her hand behind the saddle where she is repeatedly shocking the horse. Stacie Soap is not only injuring her own horse, but also putting all the bystanders and other horses in the arena at risk. For now, Stacie Soap has not been banned from equine events, nor has she faced any criminal charges due to her behavior. Although she didn’t have to pay a fine or go to prison this time, Stacie Soap is not new to the criminal world. One of her crimes is when she was part of a cattle theft in Texas. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison. People are still working towards banning her from equine events and having to pay a fine or go to prison.

Animals being abused must stop. People know it’s harmful, but they don’t use their common sense to realize what they are doing is completely wrong. Even if your animal is not doing the right thing, think about the reason. Are they confused, angry or bored. There are so many different things to consider when working with a partner that does not speak your language. All you need is patience and love.

Photograph taken at barrel racing event in Texas (Stacie Laine Soap shocking her horse)

Biography

“Stockton: Starved Dog at Death's Door Nursed Back to Health.” BBC News, BBC, 30 Aug. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-62722754.

“Neglected Animals with No Escape.” PETA, 30 Nov. 2022, www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/cruel-practices/chaining-dogs/neglected-chained-dogs/.

says:, Patrick Klinger. “4 Reasons You Should Never Keep a Dog on a Tether or Chain.” One Green Planet, 17 Oct. 2022, www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/reasons-you-should-never-keep-a-dog-on-a-tether-or-chain/.

“Sign the Petition.” Change.Org, www.change.org/p/all-organizers-of-us-equine-sport-events-ban-abuser-stacie-soape-from-participating-in-equine-sport-events. Accessed 17 May 2023.