animal cruelty
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animal cruelty
The cruel, abusive, or neglectful treatment of animals that causes them pain, suffering, or harm. Animal cruelty is a criminal offense in many countries.
Die Haltung der Hunde in den engen Käfigen wurde als Tierquälerei angezeigt.
Keeping the dogs in the cramped cages was reported as animal cruelty.
The word is made up of 'Tier' (animal) and the stem of the verb 'quälen' (to torment). The ending '-ei' here denotes an action viewed negatively, similar to 'Schlägerei' (brawl) or 'Heuchelei' (hypocrisy).
Er wurde wegen Tierquälerei zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilt.
He was sentenced to a fine for animal cruelty.
Since it is a criminal offense, 'Tierquälerei' (animal cruelty) is often combined with legal verbs. Typical phrases are 'Tierquälerei anzeigen' (to report animal cruelty), 'wegen Tierquälerei verurteilt werden' (to be convicted of animal cruelty), or 'gegen Tierquälerei kämpfen' (to fight against animal cruelty).
Die Nachbarn haben den Fall von Tierquälerei bei der Polizei angezeigt.
The neighbors reported the case of animal cruelty to the police.
'Tierquälerei' (animal cruelty) is usually used as an uncountable noun. You talk about the concept in general and rarely use an article when referring to the criminal offense itself.
Tierquälerei ist kein Kavaliersdelikt, sondern eine Straftat.
Animal cruelty is not a minor offense, but a crime.
