Animal Cruelty One day while watching TV I saw an ad for the ASPCA about donations to help this organization end animal cruelty and to save mistreated animals. After seeing this, I started to wonder how many people were watching the same ad and not paying attention because it was just an ad. However, it wasn't just an advertisement, it was a plea, a wish and a warning to everyone who wants to end animal abuse. Animal cruelty is a major concern in the world today, with large numbers of animals being mistreated. However, there are ways to prevent this and the public needs to be more aware of the types, signs and what they can do to stop animal cruelty. as well as the organizations that help make this possible, like the ASPCA. The term "animal cruelty" or "animal abuse" refers to a wide range of different topics and interpretations based on personal opinions and beliefs, but some things are unquestionably cruel. . One type of abuse that many people don't seem to realize is abuse called "passive cruelty" (pet-abuse.com). This includes neglect such as "starvation, dehydration, parasitic infestations, allowing a collar to grow into an animal's skin, inadequate shelter in extreme weather conditions, and failure to seek veterinary attention." when an animal needs medical attention. Often, the person investigating may believe that the abuse "occurred due to ignorance" and "may attempt to educate the pet owner and then review the situation to see if there are improvements." However, in extreme cases, “the animal is immediately removed from the site and brought for urgent medical attention.” The other form of cruelty is “active cruelty”. This is the type of abuse that many people think of when they speak...... middle of paper ...... the aim of our work with the SPCA is "to be the voice of animals ". We should all be voices for animals. The fight against animal cruelty is long, tiring and can seem unproductive, but each animal saved makes a huge difference in the lives of not only the animal but also the people who answered the call. This is not an incurable disease, it is simply an infection that will hopefully go away with time. Works Cited Hudson, Karen. Personal interview. November 27, 2010.The Humane Society of the United States: The Humane Society of the United States. Internet. January 11, 2011. “How to recognize cruelty.” Aspca.org. Internet. January 10, 2011. "Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Cruelty." Pet-Abuse.Com - Home. Internet. January 10. 2011.