no offense, but i think this is a really misguided statement. firstly, how could you possible say that animal abuse is just as bad as child abuse? Good God! i honestly cannot understand for the life of me how certain individuals can (with a clear conscience) take up animal causes with such gusto while turning a blind eye to the UNBELIEVABLE scale of social injustice that STILL exists among humankind--especially with regard to children! this sort of shit is not just taking place in backwards countries, it's still very much happening in our own backyards! where the hell are people's priorities? where have people's sensibilities gone? i'm not condoning animal cruelty in the least, but it pisses me off that certain activists divert the bulk of their energy, money and efforts to help protect animals when they can see with their own eyes the various social injustices that still exist (and is tolerated for the most part) in places like the US!
in addressing your latter point, let me say that i firmly believe, partly due to anecdotal experiences, that people will be more apt to report or at least intervene in observed instances of animal abuse than incidences of child abuse! truly, this is a sad, sad commentary on the state of humanity, or lack therof!