Animals suffer secret abuse
By Jessica Webster
City
Editor
Maybe it's the fact that puppies are so squishy and
defenseless that makes killing or hurting them so gruesome and disturbing
to the public.
Last week, one puppy died of massive internal injuries
after being hurled against an apartment wall, and another puppy is in
serious condition with back, skull and eye injuries after being slung
against the same wall.
This is the story that stirred the Greater Lafayette
community when Purdue junior Scott Andrew Moulton was arrested Saturday
in connection with killing a Rottweiler puppy and injuring a German Shepherd
mixed breed puppy.
Now, animal experts are saying that animal abuse
and cruelty are far more common than the public realizes.
Dr. Todd Clark, a veterinarian with the Creekside
Animal Hospital, said he sees only a fraction of the animal abuse cases
that occur. "For every case I see, I know there's hundreds more," said
Clark. "Jerks who hurt animals for fun will never, ever bring them to
me … most abusers will never bring their animals to a hospital."
Clark said the animal abuse numbers in this country
are vastly skewed because it's difficult to see abuse.
"It's really difficult to look at a puppy and know
that it's been abused," said Clark. "Similar to children, puppies are
clumsy and they do stupid things like jumping off decks and getting hurt.
"In most cases of abuse that we see, someone who
is angry brings the animal in and tells us about the person who has abused
it. Other times, a person just feels so guilty about what they've done
that they flat out admit they’ve kicked it or something."
Mary Sandberg, facility manager for the Tippecanoe
County Humane Society, agreed that animal abuse is difficult for the Humane
Society to identify, as well. It's even more difficult to prove, she said.
"The animal cannot tell you 'He kicked me,' or 'He
hit me.' Abuse probably happens more often than we know about — and
this is sad, but it's about having an animal that you can actually use
as evidence."
Clark said he gets nervous in regards to potential
animal abuse cases because of a "very fuzzy, gray zone of legality."
"There's a client/doctor confidentiality clause that
states I cannot tell anyone about this animal unless they give me permission,"
said Clark. "Personally, I would have to have the person admit to abusing
the animal because it's a very difficult situation to be in. You not only
risk losing a client, but you're likely to get sued … so you'd better
be right."
Clark said he is less worried about punishing people
who are identified as animal abusers, as he is concerned about educating
abusers and getting the animals into a safe environment where they won't
be hurt anymore.
Moulton, the junior in the University Division who
was arrested for animal cruelty Saturday, posted $500 bond Tuesday and
now awaits a 2 p.m. May 5 court date in Tippecanoe County Court 2. He
is charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which can carry a fine up to $5,000
and/or up to one-year in jail.
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