Through the Looking Glass
Watch The Early Signs: Animal Cruelty Spawns Human Violence
Depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, socialization, or veterinary care, or torturing or killing an animal is animal cruelty. It is a crime. It can also be a warning sign of violent tendencies that will be acted out eventually against people.
The FBI has long recognized the connection between animal cruelty and human-directed violence. Most multiple murderers, including Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, killed and tortured animals as children. Russell Weston, Jr. killed a dozen cats at his family home the day before gunning down two U.S. Capitol policemen. Domestic abusers have a high incidence of animal cruelty. In homes where domestic abuse occurs, pets are often threatened, injured or killed by abusers. Abusers use pets to threaten and control a spouse or child. In a study of 57 New Jersey families where child abuse had occurred, animals were also abused in 88 percent of the homes. In two thirds of the homes, the child abuser was also the animal abuser. In one third of the homes the abused child was the animal abuser.
This study clearly indicates the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence. Most animal abusers are male. Many start abusing animals as children. Many are victims of physical or sexual abuse. Some copy things they have seen or that have been done to them. Others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge on someone who cares about that animal. Animal abusers are often acting out of a need for power, control and revenge. Animal cruelty is one of the earliest and most dramatic indicators that an individual is developing a pattern of seeking power and control by inflicting suffering on others. Incidents of childhood animal cruelty often are not taken seriously. They are dismissed with the comment "it's only an animal".
Ignoring animal cruelty may communicate acceptance or approval. Margaret Meade states "one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it".
What can be done to stop the violence? First, all situations of animal cruelty must be taken seriously. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Report any incident of animal cruelty to the local humane or law enforcement agency. If the offender is a child, also speak with the child's parents, school officials or department of human services. The child who hurts an animal may already be a victim of or witness to family violence. Second, agencies and individuals involved in violence prevention and response must coordinate efforts. Included are child care, schools, human services, animal welfare, clergy, law enforcement and veterinarians. There should be training for all who could encounter a situation of child abuse or animal cruelty. Employees must learn the warning signs of cruelty and abuse, recognize the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, and be knowledgeable about anti-cruelty and abuse laws. Agencies must be permitted to share information, and coordinate investigations and interventions. Cases need to be managed cooperatively rather than in isolation. For example, an animal control officer investigating animal cruelty must be trained to look for and report signs of child abuse. Situations of cruelty or abuse must be identified so that intervention can occur. Intervention may consist of legal action. It will likely involve treatment for the child and family. The purpose of intervention is to protect victims and potential victims from cruelty and abuse. Third, support humane education and conflict resolution in day care and schools. Humane education teaches children respect, nurture and care for animals. These programs may provide an opportunity for children to share information about situations of cruelty or abuse. Fourth, support strong laws against animal cruelty and enforcement of those laws.
Twenty-eight states now have felony anti-cruelty laws. Iowa enacted a new animal cruelty law this year which became effective July 1st. For the first conviction of animal torture, a person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor and must receive a psychological evaluation and treatment. He must also perform community service work. Any subsequent conviction is a felony and includes the same sentencing requirements in addition to other penalties that accompany a felony conviction. There were almost eleven million crimes of violence (resulting in injury or death) committed in the U.S. in 1997. These figures and the recent rash of multiple murders indicate that this topic is of critical importance.
Please take whatever steps you can personally or professionally to help prevent animal cruelty and human violence. An important step is to notify authorities if you have a friend, family member, co-worker or other associate who has committed animal abuse. You may save a life.
--First published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, August 4, 1998
Copyright © Laurie
Crawford Stone, 2008.
All Rights Reserved.
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