What is going on inside the hearts of people who fight to prevent animal cruelty?

Leviathan Press:

Last year, a senior student at Shandong University of Technology killed more than 80 stray cats in two months by skinning, electrocuting, burning and other extremely cruel methods. This reminded me of the student in the movie Detachment (2011) who stuffed a cat into his schoolbag and beat it to death with a hammer. He later told the teacher that he felt "trapped, just like the cat."

Terri-Lynne McClintic, who is suspected of killing eight-year-old Victoria Stafford. © The Hamilton Spectator

There is increasing evidence that people who abuse animals as children often lose their basic human emotions as adults. This is also reflected in some criminals, such as Terri-Lynne McClintic, who is suspected of killing an 8-year-old girl. It is said that when she was a child, she put a cat in a microwave and roasted it alive. A few days ago, a friend talked to me about a friend who was a psychological counselor. After finishing work every day, his mood was very bad. He needed to empty his mind for half an hour and then cry. This is just like the volunteers in this article who face abused animals every day. The degree of their inner pain and suffering can be imagined. Perhaps this is just as the saying goes, people can't bear too much truth. Of course, this also faces a strange problem: who needs psychological counseling for those who are responsible for psychological counseling?

The work of inspectors for animal cruelty prevention organizations is low-paying, lacks union benefits and protections, and is not recognized. A stray dog ​​rescued by a pet rescue organization in Houston, U.S., waits for transportation. © Brandon Thibodeaux/The New York Times What you are about to read is not interesting, but disturbing, just like the truth about animal abuse itself. This article is not intended to make you stay away, but to gain your understanding and concern.

We are shocked, anxious and angry when we see animal abuse cases reported in the media. If pictures or videos are posted, many people may not even dare to watch them because they are too horrible. But some people not only have to watch, but also have to keep listening, touching and recording, and personally rescue those animals when the time is right.

For the past few years, I've led a team studying inspectors and how they work in animal cruelty prevention organizations. It's tough research, to put it mildly. I've been getting information from people around the world, especially in Canada and the United States.

Through my contacts, I got a glimpse into what they have been going through. I was deeply concerned, but it was not about me, but about the people who work on the front lines of animal protection day in and day out.

Undercover inspectors and photojournalists on factory farms and in animal testing labs have witnessed the tremendous harm and suffering inflicted on animals. My work focuses on the inspectors who enforce the law. I hope we can better understand them and this important but undervalued job. Should their work be a public responsibility?

A woman feeds stray dogs at a stray dog ​​rescue center in Xining, Qinghai, China, May 20, 2020. © CNS / VCG Harm to animals and humans

Animal protection law enforcement officers investigate outrageous cases of animal abuse, some of which are more cruel than most people can imagine. It may be just one animal, or it may be multiple, even dozens or hundreds, and this is not uncommon. Animal abuse can be manifested as violence against animals or neglect. Emaciated animals suffer considerable pain, and animals that starve to death die in extreme pain.

These officers also witness child, partner and elder abuse. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong link between violence against animals and concurrent/subsequent violence against people, particularly women and children. This makes inspectors emotionally challenged and highlights the importance of the job. They are required to act as caregivers and social workers in addition to doing some of the work that police officers do.

© The GuardianFor some staff who have not come across crime, what they see is still depressing. They often see people suffering from poor health, mental illness, housing and financial problems.

Some of these people don't hurt animals, or don't intend to hurt them. In fact, some people want to take good care of their pets and family members, but they don't have the means. Simply put, they need help.

The staff often feel sympathy for this and try to connect the poor and other marginalized groups to appropriate institutions or projects, and directly provide them with supplies when conditions permit. Part of their work is to face people who are disappointed with life and are broken by life. They have seen too many dark sides of society.

© Pets for PatriotsPhysical and psychological dangers

The detrimental psychological impact of witnessing human and animal suffering every day is clear. Emergency service workers suffer high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder because they are deeply affected by what they see and hear.

The situation is made worse by the fact that most staff are motivated by their care for the animals and their interest in serving the community, and become frustrated and upset when they have to leave an abused animal without sufficient reason or evidence.

In addition to the emotional challenges, there are physical dangers. Many staff members work alone, and some lack even basic reliable communication equipment. Many staff members are women, while most animal abusers are men. They experience harassment, threats and assaults.

The dangers of this workplace environment are clear and need urgent attention. When it comes to larger animal cruelty cases, such as dog and cock fighting, workers are at even greater risk because these activities can also be breeding grounds for other crimes.

Vastly different work environments

Most humane enforcement agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia are affiliated with charities such as the SPCA and the Humane Society that rely on donations.

Even within a country or region, the scope of work varies greatly. It all depends on the agency itself, the relevant laws and regulations, and the degree of cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and animal rescue organizations. It also depends on the criminal justice department's commitment to animal cruelty enforcement and whether it has the help of veterinary forensic experts.

© The Press-EnterpriseIn most places, frontline staff are few and far between and over-stressed. Humanitarian law enforcement officers not only have to do difficult, poorly understood work, but are also poorly paid and often without union benefits and protections.

While they must be trained in applicable laws, enforcement practices, and regulations, and must have specialized knowledge of working with animals, those who persist in this field have an unwavering commitment to humane law enforcement, animal welfare, and public service.

From understanding to action

The concept of public service is important when examining animal cruelty investigations. There is growing debate over whether humane enforcement duties should be undertaken by charities and whether they should be recognised as a public responsibility.

For example, the Supreme Court in Ontario, Canada, recently ruled that the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA)’s law enforcement arm was unconstitutional because the charity, unlike public policing agencies, did not have the same regulatory and accountability measures as the latter.

Leadership at the Edmonton Humane Society of Alberta believes the agency's strengths lie not in law enforcement but in animal care and advocacy.

The Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba, as well as parts of Scandinavia and northern Europe, have already achieved public funding for law enforcement.

Much of the country is phasing in publicly funded enforcement models through formal partnerships between SPCAs and police, the creation of dedicated policing departments, and empowering municipal animal services offices.

The National Sheriffs' Association takes animal cruelty seriously. Currently, there are more than 50 animal cruelty task forces in the United States to promote cooperation and division of responsibilities among agencies.

Should animal cruelty inspections be considered a public service?

Most actions are led by people who want animals to be happier, who recognize the connection between human and animal abuse, and who see animal abuse investigations as an integral part of public safety, and they are.

In addition to these issues, other actions include attempts to update animal cruelty laws and regulations and ensure the careful care of animals. Public funding will not eliminate all of these job risks, but it will certainly open up important avenues for improving equipment, providing training, and strengthening protection and support for workers. The working environment of personnel can directly affect the animals.

Therefore, we should not avoid the issue of animal abuse, but pay more attention to it and make more contributions to animals, workers and the human community.

By Kendra Coulter

Translated by Yord

Proofreading/Amanda

Original article/theconversation.com/preventing-animal-cruelty-is-physically-and-emotionally-risky-for-front-line-workers-111397

This article is based on the Creative Commons Agreement (BY-NC) and is published by Yord on Leviathan

The article only reflects the author's views and does not necessarily represent the position of Leviathan