Different types of abuse
Sometimes perpetrators of animal cruelty often portray themselves as kind animal lovers, making it almost impossible for people to believe that they are capable of inflicting pain on animals. From the "friendly" neighbour who mistreats his pets behind close doors, to the "respected" community member who operates a puppy mill - there is no one identifying feature that marks a person as capable of hurting poor innocent animals.
neglect
Neglecting an animal is when the owner does not provide adequate care for animals, refusing to provide food, water, or shelter, and when proper veterinary care is not obtained. In most cases the underlining reason can sometimes be summed up into one reason, caretakers ignorance.
Active cruelty
It implies malicious intent, where a person has deliberately and intentionally caused harm to an animal and sometimes referred to as NAI (Non-Accidental Injury). Animal abuse in violent homes an take many forms and can occur for many different reasons. In most cases a parent or domestic partner who is abusive may kill or threaten to kill the household pets to intimidate family members into sexual abuse to remain silent about previous abuse.
Dairy farms
Sadly in some parts of the world, cruelty to farm animals - no matter how egregious - is usually classified as a mere misdemeanour. The vast majority of cows used for dairy production lead lives of deprivation, confinement, painful mutilations and cruel handling. These farm animals are denied access to open pasture and treated as mere milk-producing machines, forced to live on manure coated concrete floors in over-crowded sheds.
circus
The trainers focus on abusive training and handling practices. The elephants are prepared for the show by going through a routine animal abuse in the circus, which consists of a 30-minute beating, that left the animal screaming and bleeding profusely from her/his wounds. Elephants are also chained whenever they are out of public view and forced to perform while sick or injured.
puppy mills
The people who run these puppy mills focus on profits with no consideration for the breeding dog's health, care, or welfare. Puppy mills are the greatest cause of pet overpopulation and are the reason that millions of companion animals are euthanized each year. The dogs found in puppy mills are continually bred for a few years until their frail bodies are too weak to produce any more puppies.