Running Head: ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

Community Problem Report: Animal Neglect

The University of Texas at El Paso
RWS 1301
November 1, 2015
Victoria A. Berumen

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

Abstract
Animal Neglect has become a social issue for the El Paso Community. There are two
types of animal neglect. The first type of animal neglect is purposely causing physical harm
towards the animal. The second form of animal neglect is failing to provide the animal with their
basic necessities and appropriate veterinary care. Animal neglect towards the animal can cause
physical and/or an emotional affect to the victims. The general public cannot overlook the animal
cruelty cases because these cases can be linked to other crimes according to the law. Animal
cruelty can cause great pain to those who can not speak. Despite the fact of animal cruelty as a
social issue for the El Paso society, animal cruelty can be changed with the help of the
government.

Keywords: Animal Neglect, Physical Harm, Veterinary Care, Emotional Affect

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

Introduction
According to the Animal Services of the City of El Paso, they help prevent animal cruelty
by promoting the proper care of animals as well as combating the overpopulation of animals in
the El Paso society. Animal Services enforces animal laws and investigate reports on animal
neglect cases. A major issue that causes animal neglect in the El Paso community is the
overpopulation of animals. According to a study, conducted in small Hispanic community
named, Sparks located in the east side of El Paso, every year Animal Control and other shelters
euthanize about 26,000 dogs and cats due from not spaying nor neutering their animals.
Therefore, the El Paso society should help raise awareness of animal neglect and help prevent it
from happening.

Distinguishing Animal Neglect

Recognizing animal neglect is the first step to distinguishing animal abuse. There are two
two types of signs that can show animal neglect is happening, physical signs and environmental
signs. A few physical signs are the collar being so tight that it is embedded to the animals neck,
open wounds, extreme thinness, and heavy discharge from the eyes or nose. Environmental signs
are examples like pets tied up alone outside for a long period of time without food nor water, pets
are outside during bad weather, and animals are crowded in animal cages. According to a study
Investigating Animal Abuse: Some Theoretical and Methodological Issues (2010), questions
were asked from children such as Do we only consider physical abuse? (pg. 263) To answer
that question is no, animal laws do not only consider physical abuse but also emotional abuse
towards an animal. There are several different definitions defining animal neglect.

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

According to The Humane Society of the United States (2011), Animal neglect situations are

those in which the animal's caretaker or owner fails to provide food, water, shelter, or veterinary
care sufficient for
survival. It can be either
deliberate or unintentional,
but either way, the animal
suffers terribly. Extended
periods of neglect can lead
to seriously compromised
health or even death
Figure 1: Copyright 2015 Cleveland.

(para.1) This is the most accurate

definition of animal neglect. Truth

of the matter is, the El Paso community needs to understand the whole meaning/definition of
animal neglect and make awareness of this social issue. The visual to the top right is an example
of animal abuse, when you fail to provide food for the animal which is also an example of a
physical sign.

Animal Laws and Punishment

Since animals are not able to speak for themselves, this is why there is animal laws in
place. The Animal Legal and Historical Center (2014) has every law such as health and safety
laws of animals, regulation laws, animal shelter laws, and wildlife and hunting laws in Texas.
This website contains links when you click on a law to describe the law. It is important to
understand animal laws because you might be doing something wrong and you might not even

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

know it. A few examples of laws from The Animal Legal and Historical Center (2014) relate
from dogs and cats getting sterilized to hunting wildlife laws. It is also important to understand
by not following these laws means punishment. According to Defining Animal Abuse (2011),
Most States categorize it as a misdemeanor offense, and 30 States also have instituted felonylevel statutes for certain forms of cruelty to animals. This shows that most states consider an
animal neglect crime a misdemeanor which is about less than a year of punishment. El Paso,
Texas has animal crimes as a misdemeanor. This just shows that we need to show more
awareness of animal neglect in the El Paso community and make it to a felony-level crime.

Causes of Animal Neglect

According to a study, Results of a Free Spay/Neuter Program in a Hispanic Colonia on
the Texas-Mexico Border (2007) states, Every year, Animal Control and other shelters euthanize
about 26,000 dogs and cats, producing a euthanasia rate of 36 per 1,000 residents. Because intact
animals are the primary cause of pet overpopulation, it is crucial that we begin to understand the
conditions under which residents will consent to sterilize their companion animals. (pg.350)
This shows that one main causes of animal neglect is overpopulation of animals due to not
spaying nor neutering their companion animals. By not spaying or neutering their animals, the
animals are left in the street to fight for their survival, which would be considered animal
neglect. El Paso as a community can help prevent this by getting their dog and/or cat spayed and
neutered. This study was based on residents living in the El Paso community in a small Hispanic
community named Sparks. An example of an animal neglect crime in the El Paso community is
an article by INQUISITR News (2014) which is about a man named Carlos Fernandez. Carlos

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

Fernandez was arrested for alleged animal abuse; he was investigated first for an injured pit-bull
at his home. The article by INQUISITR (2014) states,

I saw what he had done (on the news) and I honestly

cant believe that someone can do these types of
things, one anonymous neighbor said. (para. 3) This
shows that animal neglect is happening and the causes
of why its happening. Figure 2 is a table showing the
most common breeds of dogs from Sparks community
that are sterilized and not sterilized.

Figure 2: Copyright Taylor & Francis

Group, LLC

Conclusion
In conclusion, El Paso as a community should help raise awareness that animal neglect is
happening. We as a community need to be the ones to speak for those who cannot speak for
themselves. Some unlucky animals are left in harsh conditions with no water nor food and are
forced to fight for survival. What can help is to enforce animal laws more, and spay/neuter
companion animals, adopting an animal, and having the necessities animals need as well as water
and food. By having shelters such as ASPCA and the Humane Society they help prevent animal
neglect from happening by showing statistics about animal neglect and enforcing animal laws.
By considering these things, it can help save several animals lives as well as make the El Paso
community a better place for animals to live in.

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

References
Animal Legal & Historical Center. (2014). Retrieved from
https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tx-dog-consolidated-dog-laws
Catherine A. Faver. (2013) Environmental Beliefs and Concern about Animal Welfare:
Exploring the Connections, (4), 149-168. Retrieved from
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0dac720e398a-41bd-9989-14324c1b42af%40sessionmgr113&vid=16&hid=124
Dawn Papple (2014, December 14). El Paso Man Charged After Alleged Animal Abuse,
Community Takes Matters in to Their Own Hands. INQUISITR. Retrieved from
http://www.inquisitr.com/1679781/el-paso-man-charged-after-alleged-animal-abusecommunity-takes-matters-into-their-own-hands/
Camilla Pagani, Francesco Robustelli & Frank R. Ascione. (2010). Investigating Animal Abuse:
Some Theoretical and Methodological Issues 23, 259-276. Retrieved from
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=53684b4aac44-4372-9648-810c4fb7fc0c%40sessionmgr111&vid=4&hid=124
Jane E. Poss. & Julia O. Bader. (2007). Results of a Free Spray/Neuter Program in a Hispanic
Colonia on the Texas-Mexico Border. 356-351. Retrieved from
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0dac720e398a-41bd-9989-14324c1b42af%40sessionmgr113&vid=10&hid=124
Juvenile Justice Bulletin. (2001). Defining Animal Abuse. Retrieved From
https://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/jjbul2001_9_2/page1.html
The Humane Society of the United States. (2015). Retrieved From
http://www.humanesociety.org

ANIMAL NEGLECT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY