Classification of Animal Abuse

1. Physical Abuse

Synonyms: non-accidental injury (NAI); battered pet syndrome

The perpetrator of physical abuse subjects the animal to a variety of actions that cause bodily injury. In some cases the fact that deliberate physical abuse has taken place is perfectly clear. A man witnessed beating his dog to death with a hammer would be such an instance. In others it is much less straight forward, and therefore can be much more difficult to recognize and diagnose. Research shows that violent acts are more often carried out by men than by women.


2. Sexual Abuse

This means the use of an animal for sexual gratification. The term ‘animal sexual abuse’ is preferable to the more familiar ‘bestiality’ or ‘zoophilia’, both of which focus primarily on the perpetrator, and thus fail to convey any sense of the physical harm that may occur to the animal. It is the very fact that the abuse involves the sexual organs or anus/rectum that distinguishes the abuse as sexual in nature. Physical injury to animals (or birds) of either sex may result and, depending on the actual type of sexual act carried out, and the size of the animal, can be very severe.


3. Emotional Abuse

Although some might claim that animals have no emotions, and therefore cannot be emotionally abused, it is difficult to believe that veterinarians and animal behavior specialists would agree. For example, regular threatening behavior and verbal harassment of the animal (shouts, angry gestures), or a failure to provide psychological comfort, clearly constitute emotional abuse.


4. Neglect

This simply means a failure to provide the animal with the basic physical necessities of life: food, water and shelter. It also includes failure to seek veterinary attention for injury and for naturally occurring illness. Failure to provide veterinary attention in cases of natural illness is neglectful and falls within the definition of abuse.
Abandonment of an animal is a clear example of neglect, as is the all too common practice of allowing a collar to tighten and constrict the neck of a growing animal. Both men and women neglect animals, and it is common in all animal groups.