Cruelty to animals

Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the human
infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than
self-defense or survival. More narrowly, it can be harm for specific gain, such as
killing animals for food or for their fur, although opinions differ with respect to the
method of slaughter. It usually encompasses inflicting harm for personal
amusement (see zoosadism). Diverging viewpoints are held by jurisdictions
throughout the world. Laws concerning animal cruelty are designed to prevent
needless cruelty to animals, rather than killing for other aims such as food, or they
concern species not eaten as food in the country involved, such as those regarded
as pets.
Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to the issue. The animal welfare
position holds that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals for human
purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but that it should be
done in a humane way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering. Animal
rights theorists criticize this position, arguing that the words "unnecessary" and
"humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations, and that the only way to
ensure protection for animals is to end their status as property, and to ensure that
they are never used as commodities.