Laws and charges against animal abuse need to be more imo. So many of these pieces of trash abusing dogs and cats get a slap on the wrist. An animal cannot escape, use the phone, call for help, speak our language, so it's more than likely the abuse has gone on for a longer period of time. I sympathize with victims of abuse (human and animal) but animals really do have it worse. they have no means of escape. It breaks my heart. With stricter laws however, perhaps we can curb this behavior.