Neglect is the most common form of child abuse and accounts for
more than half of all reported cases. Dave Pelzer, author of
several books including A Child Called It was the victim of many
abuses including neglect. In his book, he writes: “When I was
given the luxury of food, I ate like a homeless dog; grunting
like an animal at Mother’s commands. I no longer cared when she
made fun of me, as I hurried to devour even the smallest morsel.
Nothing was below me. One Saturday while I was washing the
morning dishes, Mother scraped some half-eaten pancakes from a
plate, into the dogs’ dish. Her well-fed pets picked at the food
until they wanted no more, then walked away to find a place to
sleep. Later, as I put away some pots and pans in a lower
cabinet, I crawled on my hands and knees to the dogs’ dish and
ate what was left of the pancakes. As I ate, I could smell
traces of the dogs, but I ate anyway.” Many battered children
are also neglected. If their parents or care providers do not
provide adequate food, clot