Whenever an animal is abused, a chain reaction begins in our community. Not only does an innocent animal get injured, but the person who commits the offense often falls into a cycle that could ultimately result in violence against other people. Often, cruelty to animals is just one aspect of a social environment marked by violence.
Battle Against Dogfighting educates targeted communities about why they should take dogfighting and animal abuse seriously to protect our communities and children from violence. BAD emphasize the compelling connection between violence towards animals and violence toward people, and the importance of reporting all animal abuse, including dogfighting, to law enforcement. |
People who abuse animals are 5 times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. |
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Animal abuse, like many other forms of abuse, is about power and control over a helpless victim. It is intolerable. By taking action against animal cruelty, we not only prevent animal suffering, but also uncover and perhaps prevent additional crimes. Understand the link and take animal abuse seriously. Hurting an animal hurts us all.
Animal Abuse and Human Abuse: Partners in Crime
The link between animal abuse and more violent conduct has clearly been established. The dismembered remains of dogs and cats today could well be that of children tomorrow. Animals often suffer alongside human dependents in neglectful homes. Such disregard for life does not recognize species lines and may turn into violence.
Violent acts against animals have long been recognized as indicators of a dangerous psychopathy that does not confine itself to animals. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders start with acts of cruelty toward animals, and don’t stop there; many of them move on to humans.
A study conducted by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers. 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.
The Cruel Household: Animal Abuse and Family Violence
While animal abuse is an important sign of child abuse, the parent isn’t always the one harming the animal. Children who abuse animals may be repeating a lesson learned at home; like their parents, they are reacting to anger or frustration with violence. Their violence is directed at the only individual in the family more vulnerable than themselves: an animal.
One expert says, “Children in violent homes are characterized by ... frequently participating in pecking-order battering,” in which they may maim or kill an animal. Indeed, domestic violence is the most common background for childhood cruelty to animals.
Researchers have found that a batterer’s first target is often an animal living in the home, the second— a spouse or child. Often, batterers are able to control their victims, such as a spouse, by threatening, torturing, and/or killing the victim’s animal companions. A 1997 survey found that out of the 50 largest shelters for battered women in the United States, 85% of the women and 63% of the children entering shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in their family. |
The neglect, abuse, and exploitation of animals promote violence in our neighborhoods and families.
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Three separate studies have documented that from 18% to 40% of women seeking shelter at a crisis center reported that concern for the welfare of their pet prevented them from seeking shelter, in some cases for more than two months. If you need help, the Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims (SAAV) Program is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that provides safe, temporary, and confidential shelter for the pets of domestic abuse victims fleeing abuse. Visit www.saavprogram.org for more information.
Childhood Cruelty to Animals: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse and
Saving our Children from Repeated Patterns of Violence
In 2001, HSUS published a national study of high-profile animal cruelty cases in the U.S. Their study found that 92% of intentional animal cruelty cases were committed by males – 20% of those cases were committed by people under the age of 18.
Many animal abusers have a history of other antisocial or criminal activities, including vandalism, assault, and arson, and many are the victims of physical or sexual abuse. Animal cruelty is often associated with children who do poorly in school and have low self-esteem and few friends.
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.
