Kaylee Rucker English 101 Summary Response October 6, 2016 This is Pet Abuse? There is a high amount of controversy over what should and shouldn’t be considered pet abuse. Some people find chaining or crating a dog to be a crime. According to Ballingall, some animal rights activists have tried to get chaining and crateing banned. They say that dogs being chained or crated makes them feel isolated, anxious, distressed, lonely, and aggressive. In one instance, animal rights activists had called Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to complain about how one man was taking care of his dogs. An investigator went to check the report, and the dogs had long chains in the backyard, plenty of room to run, and everything that they could need. People are over exaggerating what should be considered abuse, explains Ballingall. In some places it has already been made illegal to leave a dog unattended in public for any amount of time even if the dog is tied up. The common practice of cropping dogs ears has also been made illegal. Others believe that the practice of chaining or crating dogs is okay as long as the task is done in moderation. Silvia Jay, dog behavior expert, says, “Crates can be a really good tool to manage a dog and keep him out of trouble, especially as a puppy” (qtd. in Ballingall par. 15). In modern times, a dog is viewed as a part of the family, not just a guard dog. Many people are starting to treat dogs like they are people; they are pushing for rights that an animal shouldn’t possess. The shared love for dogs is what causes these controversies.