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On animal abuse ...
Editor of the Reformer:
I would like to bring to attention a growing issue, the issue of animal cruelty and abuse. Animal cruelty means many things to many different people. It can mean simple things like forgetting to feed an animal for a few days, or things far worse, such as beating or even killing an animal. We need to stop animal abuse because it makes the
animals suffer, it causes over-crowded shelters and it causes those animals to act scared and mean and they’ll be harder to adopt.
I believe that animal cruelty is a very big issue. I believe that many animals-domesticated, stray and wild, are neglected, beaten and even murdered. Killing and beating animals isn’t all animal abuse is about. It can be simple things or something someone could accidentally do even if they didn’t want to hurt the animal. I think that forgetting to feed a pet is considered animal cruelty because you’re not giving the animals the food they need to survive. I believe that in some cases, domestic violence is linked to animal cruelty. I believe this because when people are upset with each other, they attack the animal before they hurt each other.
According to CBSnews.org, "On Feb. 11, 2009, the so-called Worst Case of Animal Abuse in Vermont was found. Many animals were found dead and few were lucky enough to get rescued. Some animals were even found dead, frozen
According to Americanhumane.org, "64.5 percent (1,212) cases involved dogs; 18 percent (337) involved cats; 25 percent (470) involved other animals." This shows that not only certain types of animals are abused. "Nearly 1 million animals a year are killed in connection with domestic violence."
Some might say animals are not as important as people, but actually, they are important. Animals give us comfort and companionship. Some also might say that this issue isn’t important enough to use the country’s resources on, but isn’t harming an animal just like harming a human being? Some people might ask what’s the difference between killing a cow for food and killing a domesticated animal? Well, you would be killing a cow for consumption. If you harm a pet, it’s not going to be shipped to the grocery store after it gets killed.
Some solutions to stopping animal abuse could be to consistently feed your animals/give them water and if an animal bite or scratches you don’t hurt it in return. Also, keep your animals in good living conditions. Don’t keep them in a cage all the time, animals need to move just like humans do. If you do these simple things you can help save animal lives and if you know someone who is abusing their animals turn them into the police. People in the U.S. are committing more and more abusive acts each day, and every state has growing numbers of animal abuse cases. Let’s take Vermont out of the equation.
Danielle Winter,
Academy School student
On the homeless ...
Editor of the Reformer:
I feel very strongly about the fact that we have such a huge amount of homeless people in our country. Since the U.S is probably one of the richest countries in the world, it should provide more shelters for the homeless, and the people who have money to donate to help build those shelters or at least donate food.
According to Vermont Public Radio, "In Vermont, a little over 300 people will take refuge in one of Vermont’s 22 Shelters nightly. Most of these shelters don’t have enough room and are constantly full, leaving most people with nowhere to go."
According to The Chicago Alliance Organization, "Families that have parents who don’t have enough money, are forced to go to the shelters because they can’t afford their own housing." If that was me, I would feel despair that I would have to leave everything and would have to go a shelter where I have to live with others. If you were homeless and had nowhere to go, plus you have a family, the only choice you have is to go to a shelter.
Thousands of people are homeless and according to The Chicago Alliance Organization, "Out of 750,000 homeless people, 56 percent of them are living in shelters and transitional housing and the rest (44 percent) are not sheltered."
Many people might think that helping others is just a waste of time and money because it’s not their fault that someone is homeless. I know that there are people who have more than enough money. Some people could donate to help, but they aren’t aware that homelessness is an issue right now or they just don’t care. Plus, I also know there are some people out there who are nice and caring enough, and are more than willing to donate their time and money to help others in need.
So many people are homeless and are living on the streets. Out of 750,000 people who are homeless 56 percent of them are living in shelters or living in transitional housing and the rest are homeless. People can help in so many ways. One way you can help is if you’re running a business and need help you can actually give job training to some of the people in shelters. The person you’re giving the job to will get some money and you’ll get more help with your business. So, it’ll actually be a win/win for both. I think the state or the whole country can help build more shelters since there aren’t really enough. I hope you will strongly consider helping changing this problem.
Benish Nabeel,
Academy School Student
On child abuse ...
Editor of the Reformer:
I strongly believe that child abuse is still a huge problem. I think if parents abuse their child, their child should still get taken away, but I also think the parent still needs to go to counseling until they can prove they can be a responsible parent. If their parent abuses their child again the parent should be sentenced to prison for five years. Once the parent gets out of prison they should no longer be trusted with their child alone. So, if the child still wants to see their parent, I think the child can go to their parent’s house on weekends, but there should be someone checking up on them every hour. Maybe the parent may come visit their child at their new foster home. This is how I would like to help end child abuse.
According to Medicine Net, "3.3 million child abuse reports had been made in the United states in 2005. Four children died every day in 2005 in the United States." This tells me that people think that young children are the easiest to hurt. They are so little and don’t know why someone is hurting them and are too scared to tell someone.
According to Cardinal McCloskey Services, "Children who have been abused or neglected are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as juveniles, also the youngest children are the most abused."
Also, according to Child Help, "about 80 percent of 21-year-olds that were abused as children met the criteria for having at least one psychological disorder." I think this why so many people have anxiety and other disorders
If you want to help end child abuse then you should get a hold of your senator and ask them to get more involved. That is one way to help if you are old enough. If you are underage and you also want to help end child abuse you can write something like this to all adults that may be willing to get more involved. Maybe if the governor got more involved, people will follow the laws and stop abusing their children.
If you have the power to vote, run a campaign, or contact your senator. I want you to please try to help to end children getting hurt. Hurting children is wrong. This has personally effected my life, because I know someone who has been abused as a child. You also probably know someone who also has been abused as a child. So please help me, if we don’t break this cycle the children that are getting abused might do this to their children an so on. Let’s stop child abuse before another child has to suffer.
Arianna Hrabovsky,
Academy School student
