Should animals suffer pain and suffering? Should they go without food and/or water? The answer is no. Animal abuse happens every day and it happens because people are barbaric or because they don't know how to best care for the animal they have. Whatever the reason, it's still not right and will never be right. This document will cover a brief history of animal abuse, statistics, signs of animal abuse, and what can be done to stop animal abuse. Animal abuse must stop for animals who cannot speak for themselves. Animals have been mistreated for centuries. The famous animal abuse of the 1800s was cockfighting, or fighting with domestic cocks; today this is outlawed in 48 states and the District of Columbia (www.aminallaw.info/articles/dduschick.htm;3rd section 3rd paragraph). Many societies against animal cruelty existed as early as the 1800s, but were not recognized until 1873 (www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/:first paragraph). The leader of the first recognized organization was Mary Ellen, who had 27 clubs in 10 United States (www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/; first paragraph). There are many statistics that accompany animal abuse. Did you know that 71% of all domestic violence cases state that the abuser also harmed the animal(s) (animalcruelty.weebly.com; 5th point)? 47 of the 50 US states treat animal abuse as a crime (www.humainsociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/; 4th paragraph). In all animal abuse cases, 64.5% involve dogs (1,212 cases, mostly pit bulls), 18% (337 cases), and 25% (470 cases) involve other animals that have suffered harm (www.humainsociety .org/issues/abuse_neglect/facts/animal_cruelty_facts_statistics .html#.u3E...... middle of document ......Situated workHirsch, Veronica. “Legal Protection of the Domestic Chicken in the United States and Europe, January 1 2003. Web. May 13, 2014. "How the American Humane Association Began." Web, May 13, 2014. "Animal Abuse and Neglect." May 13, 2014. . animal cruelty". May 13 2014.