To those, it may concern, 

For far too long animals of all shapes and sizes have been abused. Whether this abuse is from companies testing their products or a cruel pet owner, the abuse must end. But this dilemma isn't as simple as declaring a law against animal cruelty. For animals to be truly free of mistreatment, more animal protection laws and regulations must go into place, for their safety and well-being.  While this sounds like a stretch, we as a community and family of animal lovers must do all we can to protect our furry friends.

Most people have owned an animal, a pet, at some point in their life. And all of these pet owners have at some point seen the all-famous “sad dog kennel videos” at some point on their television, but have they really taken the time to sign a petition or donate to these organizations? Most likely not, because most of these viewers believe these videos are extremely exaggerated, but that’s the complete opposite. The majority of dogs in kennels are euthanized within weeks of arrival at dog shelters, and if they aren’t, they are abused or neglected. My family has a personal tie to such kennels. About 3 years ago, my grandparents rescued a puppy from a dog kennel that had been found on an Indian reservation. Despite no knowledge of her breed or health, they took her in and loved her, for the years she was with them. Unfortunately, Mazy, “the dog from the reservation” as they called her, fell ill to desert fever and died a year ago. While this is tragic, my grandparents can say that they did their part in helping end some of the abuse that occurs in Animal Shelters.

 Another example of my family's contributions, is my dog, Luna. While treatment in pounds and kennels is a large competitor in the abuse against dogs, people are also cruel to their dogs in their own homes. Despite how cruel it sounds, some animal owners abuse the dogs they adopt. This abuse can be through forced breeding, levels of negligence from small to extreme, abandonment on and off their properties, and so many more types of mistreatment. My dog Luna was originally adopted by a recent grad from NAU. This man, who worked around the clock, was never home, leaving her locked in a cramped kennel for almost the entire day. Fortunately, he decided that it would be best to give her up for adoption, which is how my family was able to rescue her. While this treatment could be considered mild, his negligence left our dog, Luna, very timid and frightened to very up-front and fast behavior, such as a stranger coming up to pet her, as well as no potty training. Despite this minor example, it only proves how little it takes for an animal to be abused. 

All animals, whether mammals, reptiles, aquatic vertebrates, or any other type, can go through some form of abuse, all of which is not okay. Dogs and cats are often neglected or left to fend for themselves. Reptiles are often exposed to deadly stress, from the change in their environments or inability to adapt to their new homes, diets, or lifestyles. Rodents, such as rabbits, ferrets, rats, and mice, are often left in unsanitary cages/hutches and it can result in poor health and contamination of viruses or bacterial infections, sometimes leading to death. Fish, or other aquatic animals, are often left abandoned in their tanks for days without food or proper diets, and it can lead to illness and even death. This small list of animals and their most common abuse types can go on and on, but to truly stop the abuse, a solution must go into place. 

The abuse of animals, large and small, must come to an end. To make this happen, we as an animal-loving community, along with other supporters, must come together to make a change. Whether this change includes laws and regulations put into place to protect all animals or background checks on those wishing to adopt or “purchase” animals, something of this nature must be done. It is in their best interest and well-being, that you and other contributors support the protection of animals so that our world can become a better place, no matter the cost.