Cruelty to animals

Cruelty to animals refers to treatment which causes unacceptable suffering or harm to animals. The definition of "unacceptable suffering" varies from person to person. Some consider only suffering inflicted for sadistic reasons to be cruelty to animals, whereas others include the suffering inflicted for other reasons, such as producing fur or meat, or in the animal-testing and vivisection industries. Many people regard cruelty to animals as a major moral issue.

Related Topics:
Harm - Animal - Sadistic - Fur - Meat - Animal-testing - Vivisection - Moral

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Psychological studies have shown that individuals willing to inflict harm on animals are more likely to do so to humans. One of the known warning signs of certain psychopathologies, including anti-social personality disorder, also known as psychopathic personality disorder, is a history of torturing pets and small animals.

Related Topics:
Psychological - Anti-social personality disorder

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The animal welfare and animal rights movements represent two different responses to the issue. The animal welfare movement believes that the use of animals for human ends is justified, but is concerned with improving their treatment. The animal rights movement, on the other hand, holds that we should stop making use of animals.

Related Topics:
Animal welfare - Animal rights

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