Cruelty Of Animals During The Victorian Era

Comparison Essay
“When humans act with cruelty we characterize them as ‘animals’, yet the only animal that displays cruelty is humanity”-Anthony Wilson. Animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty are the intentional and unintentional infliction onto animals from humans, regardless of whether the action is illegal. While the distinctions between Victorian Era animal abuse and present day are apparent through the current laws and organizations to safeguard them, their resemblance of wounding misbehaved animals is salient
Two critical advancements in the protection of animals between the Victorian Era and present day are the laws established and the organizations to shelter and protect them. “He then gave him another blow on the head, just to stun him till he came back again” (Charles Dickens, 1961).

The example given is how the animals were treated during the Victorian Era.

During this time, nothing would have been done to protect the animal being wounded. The Animal Welfare act was devised in order to prevent events or actions identical during the Victorian Era. “The Animal Welfare Act for 2006 revealed an 8% increase in rescues and collections from the previous year” (APHIS, 2007). Because of the Animal Welfare Act, the number of animals who have suffered from cruelty and have been rescued has increased. “This resistance only infuriated Mr. Sikes the more; who, dropping on his knees, began to assail the animal most furiously” (Charles Dickens, 1961). Even with resistance, many people continue to harm animals in ghastly ways. The reasoning behind organizations such as the ASPCA is to take animals that have been abused in such ways like in the Victorian Era, and give them to better owners that will treat them with responsibility. “Approximately 6.5 million companion animals

enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011” (ASPCA, 2017). Because of organizations such as the ASPCA, there has been a decline of in the number of animals entering a shelter. This means that less of the animal owners have abused their pets, leaving the population of animals in need of a new owner to decrease.
During both the Victorian Era and even today, animals are abused just for their behavior. Not obeying their owner, even if it is to do something atrocious, is a tremendous dilemma when it comes to wronging animals. ” ‘Do you hear me call? Come here!’ cried Sikes. The animal came up from the very force of habit; but as Sikes stooped to attach the handkerchief to his throat, he uttered a low growl and started back” (Charles Dickens, 1961). In the case above, the human is attacking the animal for not listening to his orders. Physically, the animal is showing self defense by growling. However, abusive owners would not give into actions such as that and continue to hurt the animal. While some people believe, you should strike animals that misbehave, a countless number of owners take it way too far to the point of slaying the animal.
While the distinctions between Victorian Era animal abuse and present day are apparent through the current laws and organizations to safeguard them, their resemblance of wounding misbehaved animals is salient. Animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty are the intentional and unintentional infliction onto animals from humans, regardless of whether the action is illegal. The quote “When humans act with cruelty we characterize them as ‘animals’, yet the only animal that displays cruelty is humanity” by Anthony Wilson is exceptionally accurate that abusive humans are truely animals themselves.