Animal cruelty is basically the infliction of suffering upon animals, not including humans for purposes other than self defense.  This means then that it is harm upon animals for personal gain in situations like killing animals for their fur.

Many governments and jurisdictions around the world have created a branch of law dealing with animals as well as enacted statutes which forbid cruelty to animals.  These laws are made though going from two approaches regarding animal cruelty.  These are based on animal welfare and animal rights.

With regard to animal welfare, it holds the position that there is nothing inherently wrong in using animals for human purposes like food, clothing, research and entertainment.  This must be under the principle that pain and suffering of the animal should be avoided by humane acts and methods.  On the other hand, animal rights theorists see that the only way to stop animal cruelty is by ending the status that animals have as being property or commodity.

The definition of animal cruelty varies per country and therefore animal law is also affected in such a way.  For example, in Australia, many states have outlawed cruelty to animals but see that this and animal law does not extend to production of animals.  In China, there are no laws regarding animal cruelty.  So, in places like Fuzhou China, unaccompanied dogs can be killed on sight by dog control offers.  In Egypt, people who kill cats or dogs were executed in the ancient times but in recent time, those who violate animal laws are jailed or fined.