The Daily O’Collegian

Although cruelty toward animals is not widespread in Stillwater, it needs attention as more people have started adopting pets.

“Every year we register two or three cases of animal cruelty in Stillwater,” said Mary Dickey, Stillwater Police Department Animal Control Unit superintendent.

According to Oklahoma Statute 1695, cruelty toward animals includes willful or malicious torture, beating or mutilation of any animal in subjugation and depriving such animals of food, drink or shelter.

The main job of the Animal Control Unit of Stillwater is to investigate cases of animal cruelty and abuse.

“Most of the calls we receive are about checks on animal welfare,” Dickey said.

Most cases of animal cruelty they experience are of starving or improperly sheltered animals, she said.

The most serious cases of animal cruelty in Stillwater have been killing a dog by starvation and knifing a calf, though the cow survived the assault, Dickey said.

“Cruelty toward animals could also include not giving them clean conditions to live and keeping them out in unsuitable weather,” said Sandra Rodriguez, forestry graduate student.

For instance, she said if she leaves her pet birds outside in this weather, they would die because they are not used to the cold weather.

Originally from Colombia, Rodriguez has maintained two cibra finches (birds) as pets for the past 10 months.

For many people, animal cruelty is not a serious issue.

“Animal cruelty is not just toward your pets; it could be even related to non-domesticated animals,” Rodriguez said.

While in Colombia, Rodriguez worked on a project that concerned street dogs, which received government funding.

When they presented the project, people laughed at them as they talked about neutering and foster homes for street dogs, Rodriguez said.

Aaron Christensen, international studies graduate student, said cruelty toward animals such as cats would involve pulling their tails, skinning them or starving them.

Christensen has two kittens and six goldfish as pets.

“I see people leaving their pets out in the cold and rain here, neglect them and just give them enough food. I would consider even this as animal cruelty,” Christensen said. “Why have pets if you cannot take care of them?”

One does not have to invest much to take care of their animals.

“I don’t have to take much effort in taking care of my pets,” Rodriguez said. “I just change their water and food everyday.”

Rodriguez recently bought a nest made specially for finches.

Christensen said he keeps his pets around him all the time.

“They keep me company, and I give them love and attention,” he said.

He said it is difficult to estimate the time and effort he takes to care for his pets.

They are a part of his life, he said.

Animal cruelty is also ambiguous.

“One has to distinguish between treatment which is abuse and treatment which is corrective,” said T.R. Krishna, industrial engineering graduate student.

Krishna said if he beats his dog mercilessly, then it is cruelty but if he slaps the dog to prevent him from doing something wrong, it could be a corrective measure.

Rodriguez said, “Some people may feel keeping birds in prison is being cruel to them, but if I let them free, they will die as they won’t find their own food.”

Dickey said the animal control unit receives several calls about people who don’t take their dogs out for a walk or don’t play with their pets, but this cannot be classified as animal cruelty.

Domestication of pets may also involve some cruelty toward them.

Dogs or cats are neutered or spayed, and that involves cruelty as we interfere with their natural lives, Christensen said. Even a simple act like declawing a cat incapacitates it to defend itself outside the home.

Cruelty toward animals and cruelty toward humans are related.

In a 2000 research project, Arlene M. Fulton, a child development specialist from Oklahoma State University, found that animal abuse was directly related to violence and other problems facing children and families.

Fulton reported that violence against animals occurred where there were instances of sexual violence against female partners, children and siblings.

“There is no difference between cruelty toward human beings and cruelty toward animals,” Rodriguez said.

If someone behaves cruelly toward animals, then Rodriguez said she doesn’t expect the person to be polite to humans as well.

In an instance of animal cruelty, the best thing to do is call the police.

“If I see an animal being abused, I would immediately call the cops, as talking to the perpetuator of abuse would be useless,” Krishna said.

Rodriguez said it is better not to talk to the person, as the person who is violent to animals may be violent to people also.

Dickey said, “When we receive a call, we first decide if it falls under the definition of animal cruelty and prosecute the case accordingly.”

The punishment for offenders includes a $100 to $200 fine, the case may go to the district attorney’s office or it could be considered as a felony or misdemeanor and treated accordingly, Dickey said.

The offenders can also be sentenced up to five years of imprisonment, Dickey said.

Christensen said keeping pets teaches people to be kind and caring.

Rodriguez agreed.

“I cannot help it but I do judge people the way they behave with animals,” she said.