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Pets & neglect
I thought today would be a good time to get a bit closer to home with the animals that we choose to adopt into our family.
Here is a word
NEGLECT
and another
ABUSE
What does this mean to you?
What does it bring to mind?
Something deliberate?
Sometimes these words conjure up images and words of
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Shooting
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Stabbing
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Setting an animal on fire
A lot of animal neglect may not be deliberate.
It can be as something as simple as forgetting to put out fresh clean water for a pet or a farm animal.
There is a strong link between animal abuse and violence. My ex-partner was violent with his dog.
Is there a relationship between domestic abuse and animal abuse?
When I sought out my local woman centre about the violent relationship I was in. I had to do score test to find out which band or stage of severity my abuse I was in.
One of the questions was if my ex-partner ever hurt an animal. Animal abuse
This is one of the four predictors that may indicate that a partner will be violent to a child or a partner.
I remember a long time ago, I can’t remember where I was living but there was a man who was always abusing his dog. I don’t know what he did to it but the animal was clearly distressed. So much so I reported it.
So can animal abuse give some indication towards abuse to people?
Social workers /professionals are supposed to be trained to look at an animal’s living conditions in a household and gauge how they are treated to indicate if they’re some kind of clear break down in a family. There can be many reasons for this.
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Poor mental health
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Unable to have Empathy
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Substance misuse
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Animal hoarding
Animal neglect does give a better picture of any child /Domestic violent abuse that may occur in a household.
It seems like a no brainer and it is..
MEMORY ALERT
I remember when I was about 4/5 years old. I was playing with my ‘My little pony’ kingdom and the kitten we had at that time came to say hi. I don’t know what I was thinking but there was a ribbon on the floor- the memory is a bit blurred.
I tied the ribbon around my kitten’s neck and then tied it to the leg of the table my pony kingdom was on and I kept on tightening the ribbon until my kitten was hanging.
Something in my brain shattered. I realised if I didn’t do something my kitten would die because of me. I scrambled to get my kitten free and I was in tears- horrified that I had nearly killed my kitten.
My kitten was fine by the way.
What if my mother hadn’t been a mad cat/animal lover like me?
What if she hadn’t taught me to love and respect animals?
Just a thought I guess….
She doesn’t know about this event.
So is animal abuse normal in children?
This can indicate that a child is a high-risk youth. Children from violent homes of abuse and neglect can act out abuse on animals.
I don’t know what this says about me.
Was I acting out on some unconscious level what was going on in my home at that point?
Possibly.
I think for me what is important is my instinct kicked in and I knew this was wrong and I never wanted or tried to hurt an animal again.
Some experts would agree that intervening early with a child at risk of developing abusive traits can be more therapeutic in stopping the cycle of violence.
Why should I get involved in reporting animal abuse if it is not my business? How can I possibly be making any difference at all?
It is about looking at the bigger issues. If you report to the police/animal protection society of any abuse that you see, then this will be recorded on the crime database and it can lead to investigations and prosecuting dangerous criminals, keeping them away from society-ie in prison.
People who act out on crimes such as
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Damaging property
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Violence against humans
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Drug and Disorderly offences
can all be linked to animal abuse
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? I hear you ask
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/tips/cruelty_action.html?credit=web_id83147831
Report all animal abuse. Animal abuse can indicate that there is something seriously wrong with an individual. It is not normal or acceptable.
The more we as a community alert police and the law to animal abuse, it becomes a clear message that this is an issue that needs to become more of a priority. It is a stand we take- that we will not accept to live in a violent community. Law enforcers will need to become more serious about how they deal with this crime because we won’t ignore it anymore.
The result will be a safer community for our families.
Lynx Fur coat
My awful confession.
My topic -Animals
It’s the last post of the a-z challenge. I’m on the final letter- Z.
My French Grandmother, who has the last stages of vascular Dementia lived in a different time to me.
Before my exsistence , couple of generations before mine, my Grandpa, bought a gift for my Grandma. I was told she had the coat made for her in Vienna.
I have a confession to make , I am so (so) ashamed.
It’s no ordinary coat,it has her initials engraved on the inside (lynx fur.I’ve seen Kate Moss wear something similar).
For my 27th Birthday my Grandma gave me her coat. It didn’t fit her any more (& she loved me –of course).
I ignored my guilt,played the ignorant person when I wore it ( in hypothernic tempertures in the U.K.) with hesitiant pride. It kept out the cold off my bones,it was soft and beautiful.
I own a lynx fur coat. (cue: Gasp, shock & horror).
Now before you all judge me with sentiments such as:
“Burn it ,Daisy , burn it. Sell it or whatever.. Just get rid, girlfriend cos if you don’t,see this? You and me? We are done. And I mean done .”
Try to understand that this is something sentimental (an heirloom) that my grandma gave me before she got ill and passed away from Vascualr Dementia & Alzeihemers.
I live with this secret. Erm, not any longer….
I don’t wear it these days.
It makes me feel like a hypocrite.
My Mom has kept it.
She didn’t want me to get rid of it while my grandma was still alive.
So, this is my shameful secret.
Last time I looked at it, I put it on, and I felt like Hannibal.
Images of torture came to the forefront of my mind of what happened to this animal.
How to end this post?
It’s not easy (or even affordable) to just switch over your whole life style /ethics/family traditions etc.. to not eating or wearing anything that hasn’t had an animal involved in the process in some way.
The truth is
I frittered my wedding money away (a couple of years ago) working for a non animal tested and environmental friendly business that sold products from A-Z
I ended up buying most of the products (and it led to nada profit for me)
It was expensive.It cost me an income. It alleviated my conscious.
I stopped eating sweets (Haribos)because I knew that they had gelatin in them, and that derives from animal fat.
Who needs a motivation for going on a diet?
(You now have one )
We can’t get it right all the time. .
We can become more aware about where our consumables come from, who suffers & power ourselves up with knowledge (as shocking and awful as it is).
I’m not saying be ‘over zealous ‘, however,the first step to fighting this massive topic of animal abuse in all its forms -is to become conscious & then to act.
Being conscious leads to decision making and any action you do that comes from a good place in your heart or mind is a good start.
One final thought before I wrap this up.
I recall a time I woke up to to the salacious smell of grilling bacon – thanks husband for the tempation.
I nearly threw up. The smell was rank. He thought I was going all ‘Johnny Drama’ (Entourage) on him but, honestly it made me feel sick to the point I ran out of that kitchen.
I DON’T WANT TO EAT SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY JUST LIKE ME
Thanks for the the support and new flowers I’ve made and met.
It has been a pleasure.
Words are my moonshine
When you feel you’re hanging on the vine,
Remember- a seed push forth a mighty sign.
You must take the sunbeams and treasure what’s thine
Wild Kansas City is but one destination on the sign.
Take hope, light and lose the animosity,
for inside you, there is no monstrosity
Get caught speeding in high velocity.
It’s not a train smash — nor a catastrophe.
When you’re stuck in the middle of time.
Jump off the fence ‘cos that’s doing yourself a crime.
Don’t you let commoners think your words cannot define,
Your value, worth and dreams are not benign.
Take it from the apple tree
He allows fruit to aid in his victory.
Oh don’t, hide like a willow tree
Cry, but remember you have a destiny.
Everything will start to — lookup — allow the clouds to throw some shapes.
Open them wide , mind expand — understand the lessons from life’s true greats.
You’re already one them-slightly chipped — still most valuable of porcelain plates.
Never doubt what you can do — take a leaf from natures golden ratio
You radiate when you guide the fates.
Lets’ lasso this up and keep your spirit wild
Grow tall — never lose your inner child.
A silly poem to spread to the crowd
Accept her quirks — light-hearted, silly sap — never lose a day when she has smiled.
*I Iwas inspired by the song ‘This little light of mine’. live, love, don’t hold as grudge. Remain true to who you are and you won’t stand alone for long.
i
