constantly being wary about the possibility of death. Although this scenario may seem distant for many, for others, it is an unfortunate lifestyle. Every year more than 2 million reports of child abuse are claimed in the United States alone – but that is only half of the true story (Child Abuse Statistics). While society naturally puts more emphasis on human abuse, dogs are forced to fight their struggle alone. Every year 4 – 5 million reports of dog abuse are claimed in the United States, more than four times that of child abuse claims, and yet, little has been done to rectify the situation (Animal Cruelty Statistics). When the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was established in 1866, the rights of dogs seemed to be heavily protected. Even the slightest suspicion of animal rights infringement would lead to massive fines or even incarceration. Although dogs are still currently protected by the ASPCA, the ASPCA is no longer able to keep up with the amount of dog abuse in the United States, resulting in many unpunished dog abusers. The fact that the ASPCA, one the biggest animal protection agency in the world, cannot cope with the amount of dog abuse in the United States is a testament to the true gravity of the situation. In order to help the ASPCA keep up with the growing number of dog abuse claims, the government should help through stricter legislation against dog abuse. Because light enforcement on dog abuse laws creates the false idea that torture and killing is okay and causes countless numbers of canines to suffer, strict legislation against dog cruelty is not only a necessity but also an obligation.
