Animal Cruelty is an anthology that addresses all critical aspects of animal cruelty including: its history and prevalence; related legislation; special types of cruelty (hoarding, poaching, blood sports, etc.); its link to other types of violence and crime; theories used to explain animal cruelty; the role of the media; and emerging issues related to animal cruelty. The text is suitable for undergraduate and graduate classes in criminal justice, criminology, psychology, law, sociology, animal studies, and other disciplines, and is especially well-suited for use in classes on such topics as animal cruelty, animal welfare, deviant behavior, animal law, violent crime, veterinary studies, abnormal psychology, and animal husbandry. This second edition includes chapter updates related to legislation, prevalence and incidence of animal cruelty, and research findings, as well as the addition of two completely new chapters related to veterinary forensics and cruelty towards roaming dogs.

Animal abuse is an increasingly recognized issue throughout the world and makes headlines every year. The plight of animals is well documented, but the hidden cost to those who help is not fully understood. This practical handbook covers definitions, types and explanations of forms of animal abuse, and then examines the impacts of animal abuse on professionals and provides coping strategies. The book concludes with a guide to dealing with animal abuse, including providing first aid for common emergencies and dealing with the human abusers.

How can we make sense of acts of cruelty towards animals?

Animal abuse as a predictor of abuse against humans has been documented extensively. Experts have explored alternatives to identify the early signs and stop the cycle. This book offers an up-to-date compendium that covers the historical, legal, research and applied issues related to animal abuse and cruelty.

Demonstrating that animal cruelty behaviours are another form of antisocial behaviour, alongside human aggression and violence, and almost without exception are carried out by the same individuals this book offers clear recommendations for future research on animal cruelty and future action aimed at prevention.

Animal rights. Those two words conjure diverse but powerful images and reactions. Some nod in agreement, while others roll their eyes in contempt. Most people fall somewhat uncomfortably in the middle, between endorsement and rejection, as they struggle with the profound moral, philosophical, and legal questions provoked by the debate. Today, thousands of organizations lobby, agitate, and educate the public on issues concerning the rights and treatment of nonhumans. For the Prevention of Cruelty is the first history of organized advocacy on behalf of animals in the United States to appear in nearly a half century. Diane Beers demonstrates how the cause has shaped and reshaped itself as it has evolved within the broader social context of the shift from an industrial to a postindustrial society. Until now, the legacy of the movement in the United States has not been examined. Few Americans today perceive either the companionship or the consumption of animals in the same manner as did earlier generations. Moreover, powerful and lingering bonds connect the seemingly disparate American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of the nineteenth century and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals of today. For the Prevention of Cruelty tells an intriguing and important story that reveals society’s often changing relationship with animals through the lens of those who struggled to shepherd the public toward a greater compassion.