Abuse breaks spirit of animals
Experts say animals need to learn to trust humans to begin healing process.
Abused animals suffer more than broken bones and starvation.
Animal experts say abused animals suffer broken spirits, too.
Neglected and abused animals treated at Hamilton's Liberty Veterinary Clinic must be socialized with other animals and humans, said Robyn Collins, a veterinarian at the facility.
Clinic workers gain the trust of their animal patients by feeding and comforting them.
"If their sole source of getting food is from you, they'll trust you," Collins said.
Directly feeding and holding the animals makes them "less fearful of humans" and they can begin the healing process, Collins said.
State Rep. Shawn Webster, a veterinarian in Hanover Twp., said he typically gives malnourished pets small amounts of nutritious foods and prescribes a convalescent diet.
"It's a case-by-case thing," said Webster. "You just have to assess (the animal) and then develop a treatment plan."
While the psyche of an animal in most instances can be restored with the proper treatment plan, experts say some animals suffer too much and must be put to death.
Animal cruelty is something the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton deals with on a daily basis, said Leland Gordon, the shelter's executive director.
Only a small segment of Butler County provides the shelter's abused animal intake of 20 to 50 animals per day, he said.
Middletown Journal. September 2007.
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