Are dogs likely to be abused more than cats by their owners?

Dogs are loyal and trusting. A cat would defend it self at a moment’s notice, and would slice you for little provocation.

And/or the cat would leave and not come back.

So basically dogs are more loyal to us which is why there are more chances of them being abused?

I think that’s likely to be true, and I believe it has to do with the fact that dogs are taught (or at least expected) to respond to cues. If they then don’t respond quickly enough, or correctly, or at all – that’s reason enough for many people to become aggressive.

It wouldn’t surprise me. People who own cats are more likely to not be very controlling people. Abuse often coincides with control. Not that all dog owners are controlling, I don’t mean that. I also assume men are more likely to be dog owners, and my guess is men are more likely to abuse animals, but I don’t really know the statistics. But, again I believe most dog owners, men and women love there dogs and would never hurt them.

Many breeds of dogs are also not very self-reliant. This leads to more abuse through neglect.

I checked—and dogs are significantly more likely to be abused than cats.

By their nature and relationship to humans, dogs are intended to be submissive and obedient, to follow our commands, and to try to please us by doing so.

Humans—even seemingly well-adjusted ones—don’t handle power and authority with much grace even at the best of time.

I expect abusive authoritarian personality types are more likely to be dog owners.

Dogs, being larger and tougher than cats, and expected to be obedient—may get abused more just because they’re seen as able to take greater punishment, and that such abuse may be perceived as a legitimate means of training a dog.

Cats don’t share any of these conditions and expectations that dogs typically have.

I think it depends on what type of abuse. Neglect? Malice? Torture?

I worked as an EMT at an Emergency Veterinary Hospital for almost a decade. I saw plenty of terrible things happen to both. From my experience, I would honestly not be able to opine which gets it worse… I’ve seen both set on fire, both shot with anything from pellet guns, to shotguns, and arrows, both kicked/beaten, both put in dryers etc…