Manifestations of Animal Suffering

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

Tarleton State University
Veterinary Forensics II
Fall 2015
Ashley Lawley and Jennifer Hranek

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

Abstract
This paper deals with the different manifestations of animal suffering. It discusses in
detail only five of the manifestations that we have decided depict animal cruelty the most.
Animals are living creatures and have senses; therefore, they possess the ability to feel pain.
Suffering is when an animal has a negative experience or emotion and can be expressed in
various ways, including (but not limited to): boredom, emotional maltreatment, stress, emotional
neglect, and emotional abuse. Any type of animal suffering needs to be well-documented by the
veterinarian and reported to the appropriate authorities if necessary. The degree of suffering will
ultimately help determine the level of charges filed in an animal cruelty case and can directly
impact the sentencing of the perpetrator.

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

Animal suffering is considered a crime and is usually unjustifiable and unnecessary

(Merck, 2013). There are many different ways an animal can suffer. The first way an animal can
suffer is by boredom. Animals are meant to explore and play. Being locked up or put in a small
area can cause an animal to become bored. Boredom can lead to self-mutilation, aggression
towards other animals or humans, restlessness, over-grooming, and chewing on the cage (Merck,
2013). Boredom can also cause physical and psychological effects on the animal, which portrays
animal suffering because the animal is locked up with nothing to entertain itself. Below is an
image of an animal confined to a cage displaying signs that it is possibly suffering from
boredom.

Image. Retrieved 9/16/2015, from <http://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-989149-stock-footage-close-up-clip-ofrussian-hunting-spaniel.html>

Secondly, an animal can suffer from emotional maltreatment. Just like humans, animals
do have emotions and, if bad enough, emotional maltreatment can cause distress, anguish, and
suffering. Animals with long term emotional maltreatment may suffer from separation anxiety,
depression, difficulty socially interacting with other animals, or the development of illnesses
(Merck, 2011). Animals considered to suffer from emotional maltreatment are often neglected,
rejected, isolated, taunted, abandoned, or physically abused. Emotional maltreatment displays
animal suffering because any form of abuse, emotional or physical, can cause an animal pain.

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

A third manifestation of animal suffering is stress. Stress is an abnormal or extreme

adjustment in physiology and/or behavior in response to prolonged or intense aversive stimuli
(Merck, 2013). Recognizing stress can be a difficult task and is usually best observed and
documented by a veterinarian. There are a number of different factors that can cause an animal to
be stressed. Animals need to have an appropriate amount of space, light, and bedding; a sanitary
environment full of enrichment; and always have clean food and fresh water. If any of these
things are changed or if the food/water supply becomes dirty, an animal can easily become
stressed. Animals typically do not adjust well to major life changes, such as moving to a new
house or apartment. Stress can cause an animal to develop coping behaviors such as hiding or
escaping (Merck, 2013). Even bigger, stress can cause anxiety and fear. Recurrent or chronic
stress results in alteration of the immune system, inflammation, increased sensitivity to
pathogens, cellular aging, neurologic disease, and respiratory disease (Merck, 2013). Anorexia,
pica, polyphagia, and polydipsia can develop as a result of stress along with inflammatory
bowel disease, gastrointestinal reflux, heartburn, and stress-induced hypersensitivity (Merck,
2013). Stress exemplifies animal suffering because it can result in potentially fatal physical and
emotional damage to the animal.
A fourth indicator of animal suffering is emotional neglect. An emotional need can be
defined as any need that is signaled by an emotional affect (Merck, 2013). An animals
emotional and physical needs have comparable properties and are shared irrespective of species,
gender, or breed. An animals basic physical needs include food, water, shelter, temperature
regulation, oxygen, health care, and exercise (Merck, 2013). Inability to meet the proper
emotional and physical needs of an animal results in harm being done. An animals emotional
needs include the following: ability and resources to cope with aversive events; mental

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

stimulation; safety; security; protection from danger; sense of control; the ability to exert
meaningful change to situations; social companionship (for social animals/species); adequate
predictability and stability to life events; and sufficient living space (Merck, 2013). Below is a
picture of insufficient living space for canines, which is an example of emotional neglect and can
result in harm to the animal(s).

Image, retrieved on 9/18/2015 from https://animalblawg.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/stillthinking-about-dogs-and-cats-too/

A fifth indication of animal suffering is emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can be defined
as the deliberate infliction of emotional distress on another individual (Merck, 2013).
Emotional abuse includes any acts or lack thereof that result in or have caused behavioral,
emotional, cognitive, or mental disorders (Merck, 2013). There are six categories of emotional
abuse used in human medicine that can be applied to animals. The first category is rejection,
which deals with emotional deprivation and active refusal to provide emotional support or
nurturing to an individual that you know is being harmed (Merck, 2013). The second category is
terrorism, or deprivation of safety and security, hostility, or creation of a climate of fear
(Merck, 2013). Taunting is a third category which many people might be familiar with and
includes provoking, teasing, or harassment of an individual that causes feelings of anger, mental
distress, or frustration (Merck, 2013). Another category of emotional abuse, abandonment is

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

desertion or cessation of care for the animal. Similarly, the next category of isolation contains the
deprivation of social interaction and companionship (Merck, 2013). Finally, the sixth category
of emotional abuse is overpressuring, or excessively demanding or pressuring the animal to
perform or achieve (Merck, 2013). Additionally, elevations in heart rate, hematocrit and plasma
cortisol, progesterone, vasopressin, and beta-endorphins (Merck 2013) are all physical
consequences resulting from emotional abuse. Emotional abuse demonstrates animal suffering
because emotional and physical harm can be witnessed in the victim.
Conclusion
While there are various manifestations that can result in animal suffering, we
believe that the six aforementioned indicators (boredom, emotional maltreatment, stress,
emotional neglect, and emotional abuse) demonstrate animal suffering most frequently. It is
important to keep in mind that each animal might display symptoms of animal suffering in their
own way (possibly not mentioned herein), so veterinarians and veterinary staff should be welleducated on the symptoms and different types of suffering that can be observed in animals. Any
form of animal suffering observed should be well-documented and reported if necessary. A
thorough physical examination and subsequent assessment of the level of animal suffering will
ultimately help determine the level of charges filed against the perpetrator and can directly
impact his/her sentencing.

Manifestations of Animal Suffering

References
Merck, M.D. (2013). Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations. 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa:
Wiley-Blackwell.