Should animals experience pain and suffering? Should they go without food and/or water? The answer is no. Animal abuse happens every day and it happens because people are barbaric or because they don't know how to take the best care of an animal they own. Whatever the reason, it still isn't okay and it will never be okay. This article will cover a brief history of animal abuse, statistics, signs of animal abuse, and what can be done to end animal abuse. Animal abuse must stop for animals who cannot speak for themselves. Animals have been mistreated for centuries. The famous animal abuse of the 1800s was cockfighting, or fighting with domestic roosters; today it is banned in 48 states and the District of Columbia (www.aminallaw.info/articles/dduschick.htm; 3rd section, 3rd paragraph). Several societies against animal cruelty existed in the 1800s, but they were not recognized until 1873 (www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/:first paragraph). The leader of the first recognized organization was Mary Ellen, who had 27 clubs in 10 United States (www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/; first paragraph). There are many statistics that accompany animal abuse. Did you know that 71% of all domestic violence cases indicate that the abuser also hurt the animal(s) (animalcruelty.weebly.com; 5th point)? 47 of the 50 American states consider animal abuse a crime (www.humansociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/; 4th paragraph). Of all cases of animal abuse, 64.5% involve dogs (1,212 cases, primarily pit bulls), 18% (337 cases), and 25% (470 cases) involve other animals being harmed (www. humainesociety .org/issues/abuse_neglect/facts/animal_cruelty_facts_statistics). .html#.u3E...... middle of document...... WorksiteHirsch, Veronica. “Legal Protections for Domestic Chicken in the United States and Europe.” May 13, 2014. "How the American Humane Association Began.", nd Web, May 13, 2014. "animal abuse and neglect." nd Web. May 13, 2014. “98 Important Facts About…Animal Cruelty.” . May 13 2014.