Jacob TompkinsDr. StollAP Language & CompositionMarch 11, 2014Animal CrueltyA family drives to the animal shelter to choose a new four-legged friend for their children to play with. When they arrive at the pet store, they ignore the crowded cages, the lingering smell of waste, or the wailing cries coming from the dimly lit rooms. Abuse. After finding the ideal animal, the family invites it into their home. But as the creature loses its youth, the family continues to care less and less. No one is home to let him in when it's pouring rain, or to refill his bowl when he's about to starve, or to take him outside to go to the bathroom. Neglect. He was so hungry that he ate the decorative fruits that had been lying on the counter for a week. In response, the angry father gave him a “reasonable” blow to the head. Abuse. All of these cases harm the animals and nothing is done to make a difference. Although animal cruelty is widely frowned upon and emotionally distressing, penalties in response to abuse are negligible because society places minimal value on the animals that live among us. Animal cruelty is a recurring problem around the world; however, most people are unaware of what is happening. Although some companies claim to intend to treat the animal with care, it doesn't always happen that way. Dog pounds, kennels, and even homes can be found guilty of animal cruelty to some extent. It is common for animals to live in unsanitary buildings that do not provide suitable living conditions for the animals trapped inside. Understanding of animal cruelty has been distorted over time. Currently, many people believe that animal cruelty explicitly means... middle of paper... impression. The first case to come before the Supreme Court in nearly two decades, this case ruled that the sale of any media depicting animal cruelty violated the rights to liberty and expression (1). While penalties for animal cruelty appear to be at a minimum, some people have stepped up and put in as much effort as possible to ensure animal rights. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I support animal rights as well as human rights. rights because it is the path of every human being. The meaning of this quote is that humane treatment of animals defines the overall character of human beings. Mistreatment of the living creatures among us results in the destruction of our image as a society. Man must be more sensitive towards other living beings with whom we live in this world because we are all the pieces that make up the puzzle..