Animal cruelty is any act of violence or neglect towards an animal. An animal may have been seen tied up outside at all hours of the day, without food or water, or perhaps a person has seen an owner deliberately hit their dog. Animals, like humans, have feelings and reactions to the way they are handled: mistreated animals could become dangerous to society. Society most commonly defines animal cruelty as inflicting physical pain, suffering, or death on an animal when it is not necessary for the purposes of training, discipline, or to obtain food. (MSPCA Angell 1). If the animal is injured not to obtain food, or to free it from incurable suffering but for no reason for mere sport, to indulge in a cruel and vindictive temper, or with reckless indifference to the Because of their pain, this is also considered cruelty to animals (“animal cruelty law”). and legal definition »1). Cases of animal cruelty make headlines across the country every day, whether it's the person who kills the neighbor's cat, hoarders of sick and dying animals, or the family whose hungry and freezing dog is tied up outside in the middle of winter (Lin 1 Many types of animal abuse include: dog fighting, cockfighting, animals used for product testing, inhumane killing methods such as gas chambers, slaughter, hoarding, sexual abuse, and confinement hunting (C. Smith, personal communication, October 17, 2011). People intentionally cause suffering to animals because they enjoy it, while others mistreat animals through neglect (“Animal Cruelty Facts” 1). It is said that “A person can be passively or inactively cruel simply by failing to act.” to take some form of action” (“Animal Cruelty Facts” 1)...... middle of paper ......g and Tethering .” ASPCA Connection Chaining and Sharing. ASPCA, 2010. Web. October 4, 2011. http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/advocacy-center/animal-laws-about-the-issues/tethering.aspx. Lin, Doris. "What is animal cruelty? Definition of animal cruelty." Animal Rights - Articles and blog on animal rights. 2011. Internet. November 19, 2011. http://animalrights.about.com/od/animallaw/a/What-Is-Animal-Cruelty-Definition.htm “Animals in danger as cruelty cases Rise” The Free Library April 29, 1998. October 2, 2011 How to recognize animal cruelty. ASPC 2010. September 13, 2011. http://wwww.Aspca.org/sites/CMS/Layouts/PrintViewDisplay.aspxWhat is animal cruelty?. ND MSPCA Angell. September 13, 2011. http://www.mspca.org/programs/cruelty-prevention/animal-cruelty-information/?print=t