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Animal cruelty
What is animal cruelty?
Animal cruelty includes a range of behaviors harmful to animals, from neglect to malicious killing. Most cruelty investigated by humane officers is unintentional neglect that can be resolved through education. Intentional cruelty, or abuse, is by preventing an animal of food, water, shelter, socialization, or veterinary care or maliciously torturing, maiming (wounding or disabling), mutilating, or killing an animal
Why is it a concern?
All animal cruelty is a concern because it is wrong to inflict suffering on any living creature. Intentional cruelty is a particular concern because it is a sign of psychological distress and often indicates that an individual either has already experienced violence or may be predisposed to committing acts of violence
Is there any evidence of a connection between animal cruelty and human violence?
Yes. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children. Other research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of more common forms of violence, including child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse
Why would anyone be cruel to animals? Why would anyone be cruel to animals?
There can be many reasons. Animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed, and under the control of others. The motive may be to shock, threaten, intimidate, or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society's rules. Some who are cruel to animals 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
The estimates are that there are 60 million households in the United States who have one or more pets. These pets are considered to be companions and family members. Chances are, if an animal is being abused and there is a child in that household, then the child is also being abused. Chances are, a child abusing an animal can grow up to be someone who commits other violent crimes. There is overwhelming evidence to show that human abusers, murderers or violent criminals began their abuse first with their own pets. In 2000, 7% of animal cruelty cases involved child abuse. The perpetrators either abused the children or forced them to witness the cruelty to animals. 13% of the animal cruelty cases involved domestic abuse. And 1% of animal cruelty cases involved elder abuse. these abusers must be stopped
