Dog abuse is a criminal offense in most societies and is punishable through fines or imprisonment. The symptoms of it are usually easy to spot and report to the proper authorities.
Types
There are two main kinds of abuse---psychological and physical. Psychological abuse may include neglectful behaviors like isolating the dog for long periods of time or repeatedly frightening or threatening the animal. Physical abuse consists of causing bodily harm to the dog.
Causes
According to the DogsAbuse.com, neglect is as much a form of abuse as is the deliberate harming of a dog. Some dog owners neglect to cover the basic needs of their animals, which leads to suffering and harm. This is either due to an inability to properly care for a dog (financial or other reasons), or acts as a way to purposefully harm the dog for sadistic purposes.
Symptoms
According to the ASPCA, a dog will show signs of aggression or fear if they have been subjected to psychological abuse in particular. Though physical abuse can also elicit these behaviors, signs to look for would include unusual scarring, limping, emaciation or an embedded (too tight) collar.
Consequences
Dogs that have been abused may not be able to physically or psychologically recover, thereby limiting their chances of re-adoption into new homes if rescued.
Prevention
The best way to prevent dog abuse is to look for its symptoms---mainly, unwarranted fear or aggression and signs of bodily harm.
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