© Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
Leviathan Press:
Last year, a senior at Shandong University of Technology brutally killed more than 80 stray cats in two months in extremely cruel ways such as skinning, electric shock and fire. It reminds me of the student in the movie Detachment (2011) who tucked a cat into his bag and hammered it to death, telling his teacher afterwards that he felt "trapped like that cat."
Terri-Lynne McClintic, suspected of killing 8-year-old victoria stafford. © The Hamilton Spectator
There is growing evidence that people who abuse animals from an early age tend to lose 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, who is said to have roasted a cat alive in a microwave oven as a child.
A few days ago, a friend also talked to me about a psychological counselor friend, who was in a very poor emotional state after completing his work every day, and needed to empty himself for half an hour, and then cry. This is also like the volunteers in this article who face abused animals every day, and the degree of inner pain and suffering can be imagined. Perhaps this also corresponds to that sentence, people can not bear too much truth. Of course, this also faces a strange problem: who does the person in charge of psychological counseling need to guide?
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Inspectors of animal cruelty prevention organizations work underpaid, lack union benefits and protection, and are not recognized. The picture shows a stray dog rescued by a pet rescue organization in Houston, USA, waiting to be transported. © Brandon Thibodeaux/The New York Times
The text you're about to read isn't lively and interesting, but rather worrying, like the truth about animal cruelty itself. The original intention of this article is not to avoid people, but to get your understanding and attention.
The animal cruelty reported in the media shocked and angry us. If you put pictures or videos, many people may not even dare to watch them, because it is too scary. But some people not only have to watch, but also constantly listen, touch, and record, and personally save the animals when the time is right.
Over the past few years, I've led a team that studies inspectors at animal cruelty prevention organizations and how they work. To put it mildly, this is a tricky study. I get relevant information from staff all over the world, especially in Canada and the United States.
Through contact, I got a glimpse of what they had been going through. I'm worried, but it's not about me, it's about the people who work on the front lines of animal protection day in and day out.
Undercover inspectors and photojournalists on industrial farms and animal testing labs have witnessed the immense harm and torture of animals. My work focuses on inspectors with law enforcement tasks. I hope we get to know them better, and this very important but underrated job. Should their work become a public responsibility?
A woman at the Rescue Stray Dog Center in Xining, Qinghai, China, feeds stray dogs on May 20, 2020. © CNS / VCG
Harm to animals and humans
Animal protection law enforcement officers have investigated heinous cases of animal cruelty, some of which are more brutal than most people could have imagined. It is not uncommon for an animal to be injured, or there may be multiple animals, or even dozens or hundreds. Animal cruelty can manifest itself in either violence against animals or neglect of responsibility. Thin animals suffer considerably, and animals that are starved to death die in excruciating pain.
These staff members have also witnessed abuses against children, partners and the elderly. Numerous studies have confirmed an important link between violence against animals and simultaneous/subsequent violence against humans, especially women and children. This creates an emotional challenge for inspectors and highlights the importance of the job. In addition to doing some of the work that the police do, they also have to act as caregivers and social workers.
（nationallinkcoalition.org/resources）
© The Guardian
Some staff members, although not criminal, still see and hear frustrating. They often see people suffering from poor physical condition, mental illness, housing and economic problems.
Some of these people did not harm the animals, or did not intentionally. In fact, some people want to take good care of their pets and family members, but they lack the conditions. To put it simply, they need help.
Staff are often sympathetic to this and try to connect the poor and other marginalized groups to appropriate institutions or projects, providing them directly with supplies where conditions permit. Part of their job is to confront people who are disappointed in life and devastated by life. They've seen too many dark sides of society.
© Pets for Patriots
Dangers on a physical and psychological level
The psychological effects of seeing human and animal suffering on a daily basis are obvious. Emergency service workers are highly likely to develop PTSD because they are deeply influenced by what they see and hear.
（www.cbc.ca/news/politics/police-fire-fighters-ptsd-paramedis-1.4266720）
The fact that most of the staff is motivated by caring for animals and interest in serving communities makes the situation even worse. They get frustrated and upset when they have to leave an abused animal because they don't have enough reason or evidence.
In addition to the emotional challenges, there are also physical dangers. Many of the staff work alone, and some even lack reliable basic communication equipment. Many of the staff are women, and most animal abusers are men. They are subjected to harassment, threats and aggression.
（onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gwao.12230）
The dangers posed by this workplace environment are obvious and require urgent attention. In larger cases of animal cruelty, such as dog and cockfighting, workers are at greater risk, as the activity is also a breeding ground for other crimes.
Very different work environments
Most humanitarian law enforcement agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia are affiliated with donation-based charities such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Humane Society.
Even within the same country or region, the content of their work varies considerably. It all depends on the agencies themselves, the relevant laws and regulations, and the degree of cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and animal rescue organizations. It also depends on the commitment of the criminal justice department to enforcing animal cruelty and the availability of veterinary forensic experts.
© The Press-Enterprise
In most places, front-line staff are few and stressful. Humanitarian law enforcement officers not only have to take on tricky, understood jobs, but are also poorly paid, often without union benefits and protections.
However, they must be trained in the application of regulations, enforcement efforts and regulations, as well as animal-related expertise. Those who remain in this field uphold their commitment to humanitarian law enforcement, animal welfare and public service.
From understanding to action
The concept of public service is very important when reviewing animal cruelty investigations. Whether humanitarian law enforcement responsibilities should be assumed by charities and whether they should be recognized as public responsibilities is increasingly being discussed.
For example, the Supreme Court of ontario, Canada, recently ruled that the law enforcement agency of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is unconstitutional because the charity, unlike the public security agency, does not have the same regulatory and accountability measures as the latter.
The leadership of the Edmonton Humanitarian Society of Alberta believes that the strength of this agency lies not in law enforcement, but in animal care and advocacy.
© Pennsylvania SPCA
Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe have achieved public funding for law enforcement.
Much of the United States is in the process of establishing specialized policing departments through a formal partnership between the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Cruelty and the police, while empowering municipal animal service offices to gradually adopt a publicly funded model of law enforcement.
The National Association of Sheriffs is taking animal cruelty seriously. Currently, there are more than 50 animal cruelty prevention task forces in the United States to promote cooperation and accountability among agencies.
Should animal cruelty screening work be considered a public service?
Most of the actions are led by these people: they want animals to be happier and recognize the connection between humans and animal cruelty. They see animal cruelty investigations as an integral part of public safety, and indeed they are.
In addition to these issues, other actions include attempts to update animal cruelty laws and regulations and ensure careful care of animals. Public financial support will not eliminate all of these work risks, but it will undoubtedly open up important avenues for improving equipment, providing training, and strengthening the protection and support of staff. The working environment of a person can directly affect the animals.
Therefore, instead of shying away from the issue of animal cruelty, we should pay more attention and make a real contribution to animals, staff and the human community.
文/Kendra Coulter
Translation/Yord
Proofreading/Amanda
Original/theconversation.com/preventing-animal-cruelty-is-physically-and-emotionally-risky-for-front-line-workers-111397