Why do people abuse animals?

Question

I jsut want to know what people out there think about animal abuse. I think it's horrible.

I don't know if I am the only one that feels like this, but I am alway's depressed when I think about animals that get abused. How can I overcome this?

I do know one thing I rather be depressed about it, then be one of the sick, crazy, worthless people that do that.

Answer 1

I am animal rights activist (although within reason-I don't throw blood on people who wear fur!) and animal abuse sickens me more than almost any other crime. I got to a point where I needed to stop reading some literature from animal rights organizations I belong to because the stories would literally get stuck in my head and give me nightmares. I don't know how to tell anyone to get over the sick feeling it engenders nor do I think we should get over it. It's part of our humanity.
Some people abuse animals as a way of of coping with having been abused as a child themselves. Not that that excuses or justifies it, it's merely an explanation. Kids who are abused tend to split the world into victims and abusers and sometimes see being an abuser as the only way to stop being a victim. They also may hurt animals who are less powerful and trusting, like they were as children, as a way to try and master the abuse they experienced by having control over something. Usually they come to feel remorse and guilt over this as they begin dealing with their own abuse and that is a healthy step in recovery.
Others do it as displacement-an immature way to vent their rage on a safer target than the one they are actually angry at-"the kick the cat syndrome".
Still others are sadistic and do it to gratify their own needs for power and control. And there are those who do it simply because they are curious to see pain experienced by others because they themselves are incapable of empathy or understanding another's feelings. Others do it for vengeance to harm another who cares about the animal or to intimidate a person into compliance or punish them. This last group represents what I have come to believe may actually be manifestations of true evil-a concept I never used to believe in-but have begun to re-evaluate after listening to the stories of trauma survivors for nearly 20 years.

Answer 2

People tend to beat animals because animals are least likely to fight back or report them. Although a tired dog might snap back, 9 times out of 10 like an abused child, an animal will coil up and still love their owner despite the abuse.

People who abuse animals are usually cowards and sometimes lack the courage to stand up to their fellow humans. Venting on a animal is much easier for them.

Answer 3

Because they are sick. Animal abuse is as bad as abusing a child.

Answer 4

Omg I know exactly what you mean. I feel so depressed when i see/hear of people abusing animals. My dad used to hurt my dog, and i was too young to stop him.While he was hurting her i would lock myself in my room and cry. People that hurt animals get satisfaction out of being the more powerful person. Its disgusting! They don't feel in control of their own life, so they want to feel in control of something. All bullies do. They are sick, disgusting people.

Answer 5

as of right now people are not penalized at all for animal abuse.
and honestly i agree with that other guy (didnt look at his sn), it is just as bad as child abuse. hunters should be in jail for at least like 20 yrs (dont no that much about jail sentences) if not a life sentence. they've commited homicides. and its terrible how little people think about the animals and how much they think about themselves and the meat they get to take home to their 5 yr old kids who dont realize what they're eating.

Answer 6

hurting animals or taking out aggression on other things is a defense mechanism. when anxiety plagues a person it is natural to use a defense to channel that anger. there are many types of defense mechanisms this specific response is very common in children who have had traumatic experiences or long term abuse, whether mental or physical. usually defense mechanism are more harmful than the anxiety preceding them, taken to far they are labeled personality disorders. i know it sounds terrible to harm animals, it is terrible. but we need to understand why, children in specific, are resorting to violence and what is causing their anxiety. animal abuse should be punishable by jail, but not in the case of mental illness, because people must come first. we must treat a person who needs help rather than punish them further.

Answer 7

I think it is aweful!! I think there needs to be more punsihment for people who do abuse animals! I have read that people who are able to abuse animals are also able to abuse children and other adults. I can't stand people who are mean to animals.

Answer 8

I detest the sick people who deliberately hurt animals, on the news lately (aust.) we have had quite a few incidents of youths kicking and playing football with kittens, it is horrible.

Answer 9

Because they don't have violent games to take their stress out on like I do.