The Humane Society of the United States crafted a document called First Strike: The Violence Connection that proves this fact by relying on multiple studies that show that animal cruelty is linked to violence against people, private property violation, and drug crimes.

The fact that most of the arrested animal abusers had a history of violence on human victims and that 45% of convicted murderers admitted to having tortured animals when young is something difficult to overlook. Furthermore, these studies found that animal cruelty is often also in the background of many young school shooters. Organizations such as Educational, Psychological, and Crime Prevention Associations consider children who abuse animals to be at-risk youth more prone to committing violence acts and delinquency.

Other findings revealed that pets are most frequently the first victims in criminals’ violence history. Animal cruelty is therefore a clear sign that could be effectively used to detect domestic violence or dangerous behavior in young individuals.

Pets are not only the first victims of violence in a distressed household, but they are also used as a way to control or manipulate the human target. In this context, it is not a surprise that more than 80% of women living in shelters due to domestic abuse witnessed their partners threatening to murder, or even killing, the family pet.

When it comes to families where cases of child abuse have already been reported, the findings are even more conclusive. In almost 90% of these families, the pet was also a victim of abuse. In a more broader aspect, animal neglect could also be considered as an alarming sign and the first evidence of trouble within a household, allowing professionals to prevent domestic violence.

Animal cruelty is a felony in all 50 states of the United States. However, thanks to the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, heinous and sadistic acts of cruelty against living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians are a federal felony, punishable by a fine, up to seven years in prison or both. Animal Cruelty State Laws Reach National Level

The real advantage of early detection of family distress is preventing not only animal or child abuse, but also to reduce the likelihood of future criminal conduct in youth. Animal abuse, which is associated with a context of family violence, is often related to a variety of other criminal activities as well. Children who experience violent situations regularly and are exposed to animal cruelty are more prone to suffering or inflicting violence.

Animal Abuse & Crime Prevention

Conclusions regarding the connection between animal abuse and criminal violence give room to a new approach to crime prevention and urges the authorities to make the greatest possible effort to prosecute animal abusers as well as take care of the victims. They also provide the evidence needed to encourage people to report animal abuse as a way to stop a vicious circle of violence and build safer communities.

As we have already stated when presenting Patrick’s Law case, animal abuse is another challenge of the twenty first century that should be considered from a global perspective, but that can only be understood and solved from a local point of view. Throughout human evolution, animals have played both important and varied roles, ranging from being a source of food and economic activity to representing religious symbols.

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The news reached millions of people worldwide who joined the movement and helped bring about Patrick’s Law, a bill that was approved on September 13th by the Senate Economic Growth Committee and became a law on October 26th when the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed S1303. Patrick’s Law considers cruelty and neglect as a fourth-degree crime or a third-degree crime if the animal dies. A Dog, A Miracle and An Animal Cruelty Law

Different people and communities scattered all over the world use different animals as food, livestock and as a basis to their economy. It is not realistic to think that changing a long history of tradition, religious belief, or economical sources will not have a strong effect on their way of living or that it is something that can be done overnight. While animal cruelty in civilized societies must be taken like a very serious issue leading to law adaptation and enforcement, there are numerous other activities, such as animal testing, hunting, slaughtering, farming methods, also considered as animal rights violations, but need a complete different approach in order to be solved.

Our world is a wonderful and diverse place subject to continuous changes. During the current stage of evolution, we are living the beginnings of the technological era, which have brought the beauty of global communication, making us face the challenge of either attempting to make our planet an uniformed place or learning how to make the best of our differences instead. In order to do this, global consensus and laws are required. However, whether it is animal rights or others issues, cultural differences make it almost impossible to find a law that fits all.

If the great tools offered by our times to humanity are not used to solve issues taking into account cultural diversity, this will only create clashes and division, making the train of human evolution derail off the tracks. Humans now have the opportunity to approach, understand, respect and work together towards a more just world for all species. Let’s not waste it.

What Can You Do?

• Report any case of animal cruelty to your local animal welfare organization. Every country has animal protection laws and legal action can be taken in order to stop or prevent a problem.
• Make sure that the case has been investigated by following up on it.

 

To read First Strike: The Violence Connection, click here

To locate an animal welfare organization in your area, visit World Animal Network Directory

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