Animals are harmed/killed for: - fur - skin - teeth - food/dairy products - entertainment - house decor
Animals are used for: - cosmetic/chemical testing
Other causes: - Greed - Starvation, Dehydration - Inadequate shelter in extreme weather conditions - Failure to seek veterinary care - Parasite infestations - Allowing a collar to grow into an animal's skin
The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren't enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes.
There can be many reasons. Animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed or under the control of others. The motive may be to shock, threaten, intimidate or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society's rules.