Animal Cruelty

Here at Diagnostic Imaging Systems, we've made it our goal to help veterinarians and their teams provide the greatest care possible.  DIS products are specifically designed and engineered to match equine, mixed, or small animal practice requirements.

We know that you enjoy reading our blogs.  Sometimes you'll find information for both the professional and the layperson, the business owner and the pet caretaker.  Other times, we'll provide something to tickle your funny bone.  But there can be a dark side to the lives of the creatures that share our planet.  The big picture name:  Animal Cruelty.

Animal abuse statistics show a grave and depressing scenario when it comes to suffering of animals at the hands of man.  It is a pity that animals we keep as companions are often domesticated and confined to small spaces, denying them of their natural habitat and animal freedom.

Are You Aware That

-Puppy mills are large-scale commercial operations that prioritize profit over health.  Many dogs are plagued with illnesses like kidney or heart disease as a result of the living conditions

-Thousands of greyhounds die each year—some in the name of “selective breeding”—before they ever get near a racetrack. Many dogs do not make it to the supposed “retirement” age of 4 or 5.

-Due to genetic manipulation, 90% of broiler chickens (chickens bred specifically for meat production) have trouble walking.

-Dog fighting became prevalent in the US after the Civil War, with professional "pits" (thus the name "pit bulls") proliferating in the 1860s. The practice was source of entertainment for police officers and firemen.  Today dog fighting has been reported in urban, suburban, and rural settings every region of the US.   

-It’s been estimated that there are 900 to 2,000 new cases every year of animal hoarding in the US; with an estimated 250,000 animals suffering through the ordeal.

-Over 115 million animals – mice, rats, dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, birds, among others – are killed in laboratory experiments worldwide for chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing every year.

-Every major circus that uses animals has been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set by the United States Animal Welfare (AWA).  UPDATE:  RIngling Bros Circus has announced it will be closing due to decline of interest and animal rights (chiefly elephant) activism.

-Most rodeo events rely on creating a stressful environment for the domesticated and often docile animals involved. Participants rely on harsh handling practices (i.e. twisting calves’ tails or painful electric shocks) to make animals perform.

-The exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar industry in the US and while some wild pets are bred in captivity, many are taken from their native habitats. The stress of being violently removed from their homes causes a number to die prematurely.

There has never been a documented report of a man, woman or child has ever been killed or harmed while trying to protect animals' rights and save an animal from abuse.

The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg; most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse.

Sources

1 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

2 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

3 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

4 Human Society International.

5 Born Free USA. "Get The Facts: Specific Circus Fact Sheets."