Animal cruelty is unethical

I am incresingly aware that cruelty to animals and especially dogs throughout Europe is becoming the standard norm. It is important that people for whatever reason decide to keep animals are not allowed to treat them like commodities. Under English law my dog is seen as my property but I feel that legislation should be brought in to protect the rights animals have to fair treatment. Why should we allow maniacs to abuse and use dogs and other defenceless animals? Make it a crime!