Did you know that you can affect change for animal cruelty?

Did you know that animals can suffer from PTSD and similar issues due to mistreatment/cruelty/abuse? Scientists now have proven that animals are capable of emotions just like humans and are fully capable of stress, abandonment, PTSD, depression, etc due to humans treating them in negative ways.

Did you know that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to females? That it is higher than the total from mugging, car accidents and rape combined?

Did you know that surveys show that people who intentionally abuse animals are mostly male, under 30? And that those with the highest likelihood of animal hoarding are mostly female, over 60?

Did you know that, due to levels of antibiotics not being checked in the practices of poultry farming, there are human health and environmental issues that are developing. A geological study in the U.S. discovered that 14 different antibiotics that are used in human medicine and animal agriculture were found in about 50% of North American waterways that were involved in the testing.

Did you know that children witness domestic violence more than almost any other group?

Did you know that deadly chemicals are put into the feed for chickens? Additives laced with arsenic are put into the food for about 70% of chickens that are raised for food. Unfortunately, these additives do not get eliminated thru their waste. These additives then get passed onto humans by consumption.

Do you know where to report domestic violence and/or learn more about it?

Do you know where to go to either report animal cruelty or to learn more about it?

Did you know that victims of domestic violence have several mental and/or emotional side effects, not just the physical? These victims, male and female, deal with high rates of sleep disturbances, depression, flashbacks, anxiety, have a high risk for developing an addiction to tobacco/alcohol, and other emotional disturbances.

Did you know that humans can be affected by diseases that chickens have? Food-related illness affects over 76 million people every year and over 5,000 die every year from it. Consumer Reports found that around 2/3 of chickens in their study were infected with either campylobacter, salmonella, or both. 

Did you know that the humans that work in the poultry industry are at risk for health issues? A scientist did examinations on humans that work with the poultry and found that 40% of these people are infected with campylobacter. The strain that they are infected with is "over sized and resistant to antibiotics."

Did you know that there is a growing demand to eat chicken parts instead of whole chickens? This shift in the consumer's wants is changing how chickens are raised. The industry is raising chickens to accommodate with "thicker breasts, fatter wings, chubbier drumsticks", which takes a toll on the animal. They develop skeletal problems, mainly in their legs, and most die from a disease called ascites, which is most likely due to their lungs and hearts' inability to keep up with their fast skeletal growth.

Did you know that broken bones are common in "production hens"? Most of these hens suffer from osteoporosis and broken bones, due to the mobilization of their bone structure throughout the laying process to contribute to formation of eggshells. The wire mesh from the cages often rubs off their feathers, causes them to have crippled feet, and chafes their skin.

Did you know that close to half of all male victims of rape (44.9%) and female victims of rape (46.7%) were raped by an acquaintance? 29% of male rape victims and 45.4% of female rape victims were raped by a partner?

Did you know that, on average, chickens live at least 10 years? Unfortunately, the hens used for egg production start to lose the ability to lay eggs at about 2 years old. At this point, they are then killed in a slaughterhouse. Over 100 million "spent" hens are slaughtered every year.

Did you know that abuse from a partner is the number one cause homicide of females and death due to injury during pregnancy?

Did you know that chickens are intelligent and have a social structure? When they are in nature, they form friendships and are able to recognize each other, are able to love/care for their young, roost/make nests in trees, take dust baths? Chickens that are raised for eggs or meat are not given the opportunity to do these things. Over 8 billion chickens are raised for these purposes each year. They are kept in large windowless sheds filled with ammonia, with artificial light that is used to manipulate them to eat as much as possible.

Did you know that between 2001 and 2012, 6,488 American servicemen and women were killed fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The number of American women killed by a current male partner or ex partner in that same time period was 11,766. That means that almost twice the amount of women were killed in domestic violence situations than military situations.

Did you know that animal cruelty extends to more than just domestic pets? Chickens that are raised for food are poorly treated. In the US alone, there are over 340 million hens that are raised to give eggs. The living conditions for those hens are poor, as they spend their lives confined in wire cages that are stacked in tiers located in warehouses. 

Did you know that only 25% of domestic violence is reported to police each year? That a woman is 70 times more likely to be killed in the first few weeks after she leaves an abusive partner than at any other point in the relationship?

Did you know that putting an animal into a shelter is not necessarily a safe option? About 7.6 million companion animals are put into shelters each year, 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Out of the all dogs that go into shelters, only about 35% are adopted, while 31% are euthanized and 26% that were strays are returned to the owner. Out of all the cats that are put into shelters, only 37% are adopted, while 41% are euthanized and less than 5% that were strays are returned to the owner.

Did you know that domestic violence causes Americans to lose over 8 million paid days of work every year? The monetary cost is over $8.3 billion in medical care, law enforcement, mental/emotional assistance, etc? Between the years of 2003-2008, 142 women were killed in their place of work by their abuser and during this time frame, 78% of all murders in the workplace had female victims.

Did you know in 2014, the FBI added animal cruelty as its own category in the Uniform Crime Report, which is a nation-wide crime reporting system? At the time, only 33% of the US population were participants, but the data they collected showed a better picture of cruelty/abuse to animals and helped to provide strategies to intervene and enforce laws. Starting in January of 2016, they have established 4 categories within the description of animal abuse: intentional abuse/torture, animal sexual abuse, simple/gross neglect, and organized abuse (i.e. cockfighting and dog fighting).

Did you know that murder and/or suicide is a frequent side effect of domestic violence? The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence conducted a study found that in intimate partner homicides, 20% of the victims weren't the battered partner, but someone who intervened, family/friends of the victim, law enforcement, or bystanders. In murder/suicides due to domestic violence, 72% involve a domestic partner and 94% of those victims are female.

Did you know that hoarding animals is a form of animal abuse? It involves a severe neglect and oftentimes has fatal consequences for the animal(s). Most animals in hoarding situations often suffer from the absence of their basic care being met. They are usually not receiving veterinary care, cleanliness, nutrition, proper shelter, exercise; the absence of these things usually leads to illness, starvation, and death. 

Did you know that, without receiving assistance, girls that are witness to domestic abuse are more likely to be abuse victims as teenagers and adults. Without receiving assistance, boys that are witness to domestic abuse are more likely to become abusers to their children and/or partners as adults, continuing the habit of domestic violence.

Did you know that in a survey conducted by the Humane Society, it was reported that 71% of domestic violence victims stated their attacker would also go after their pet? In another study, families that were under investigation for suspected child abuse, it was discovered that abuse to the pet(s) happened in 88% of the households under supervision for child abuse?

Did you know that there are several physical, emotional, and mental effects of domestic violence? The effects of domestic violence include PTSD/anxiety, chronic pain, neurological disorders, nutritional deficiency, unintended pregnancy, adolescent pregnancy, intrauterine hemorrhage, stillbirth, miscarriage, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal issues, noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure. These victims are also at risk for developing substance abuse.

Did you know that there is a link between cruelty to animals and violence against other people? 13% of intentional cruelty to animals involves domestic abuse? The FBI has documented this connection since the 1970's after conducting a study on serial killers which showed most had killed and/or tortured animals during childhood. People that abuse animals are 5 times more likely to commit a violent crime against another person and 4 times more likely to commit crimes against property than people that do not have a history of animal abuse.

Did you know that domestic abuse/violence is prevalent within the LGBTQ community as well? That almost 50% of all gay/bisexual men will be abused by their partner in their lifetime? That 50% of lesbians will have an experience with domestic abuse within their lifetime?

Did you know most Americans consider their pets family members? More American households have pets than children and will spend more on pet food than baby food. An American child is more likely to have a pet than a father at home. An investigation of abuse to animals is the first step of intervention from social services for a family in trouble.

Did you know that physical violence is extremely common in intimate relationships? That 1 in 4 men and 1 in 3 women have been experienced some form of physical abuse from a partner in their lifetime? And that 1 in 7 men and 1 in 5 women have experienced severe physical abuse at the hand of a partner in their lifetime? Women ages 18-24 are the most common abuse victims in intimate relationships.

Did you know that, according to the Humane Society, cockfighting and dog fighting are still prevalent in many states in the US? In Tennessee and Virginia, the FBI has worked with the Humane Society on public corruption cases involving animal fighting. They found law enforcement officers involved, and in Kentucky, there were uniformed officers discovered at a cockfighting pit. There are also reports of homicide occurring at cockfights.

Valerie Adams (NZL) 2012

Did you know that stalking is an often dismissed form of domestic abuse, that affects both men and women? That 5.1 million men and 19.3 million women are stalked in the US within their lifetime? Within those numbers, 43.% of men and 60.8% of women reported stalking from a former or current partner? 

Did you know that animal neglect is often dismissed as a form of animal cruelty? Animal neglect includes puppy mills, hoarding, and farm neglect. In most states, there is a "minimum standard of care" that means the person taking care of the animal must provide food, water, and care from a veterinarian. Violations of this standard of care are usually a misdemeanor.

Did you know that, according to the Huffington Post, the number of paid work days yearly lost by women due to domestic abuse is equal to 32,000 full-time jobs? That the average cost for emergency medical care due to domestic violence is $948 and for men is $387?

Did you know that testing on animals is a frequently dismissed form of animal cruelty? The animals are often burned, crippled, poisoned and sometimes even killed. Did you know that the US government doesn't require cosmetic testing to be done on animals? Did you know that they perform testing of pharmaceuticals, carcinogens and cosmetics is done not only on rodents, but on cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and amphibians every year as well? Did you know that in some cases, the companies will kill the pregnant animal to perform testing on the fetus??

Did you know that women that have a disability are 40% more likely to be abused by a partner than women that do not have a disability? Did you know that black women have a 35% higher risk of abuse from their partner than white women?

Did you know, according to the American Humane Association, that there is a correlation between cruelty to animals and violence toward women? 71% of women that checked into shelters reported cruelty, injury, and/or death to their pets as a result of psychological control and/or revenge from their abuser? That 25-40% of abused women feel unable to leave/escape from their attacker, due to worry for their animal(s)? 

Did you know that the presence of a gun in domestic abuse increases the odds of murder by 500% That 19% of all domestic abuse situations involve a weapon of some sort? In 2/3 of homicide including females, they are killed by a family member or loved one? There is an estimated $37 billion spent on law enforcement involving lost productivity in work places, legal assistance, involvement from law enforcement, treatment for medical and mental health, all stemming from domestic abuse??

Did you know, according to the Humane Society, some states consider animal cruelty a felony charge only if the abuser has a previous animal cruelty conviction? 43 of the 50 states have felony provisions for first-offense convictions? In those 43 states, most are limited to cases that involve aggravated cruelty, torture, or cruelty to companion animals?

Did you know that domestic abuse is on the rise? On a typical day, there are over 20,000 calls to domestic abuse hotlines across the country? Did you know that, on average, almost 20 people every minute are abused by their partner in the United States alone? This equals more than 10 million men and women.

Did you know that Animal Cruelty is on the rise throughout the United States and growing daily. If you know of cruelty to animals then click on the link below to help find information on improving the problem. Animals are there to help love us no matter what..it's our turn to do the same. 

HABBITS is taking a break!

BIG NEWS!!

We have just created a petition on behalf of the Department of Veteran Affairs to create an opportunity for every American to donate to the cause of their own freedom every year... TAX TIME!