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Ninja2

Mon Sep 28th, 2009, 10:57 PM

OK. So on a more serious note, I felt inclined to do some research because I recall a study that links animal cruelty by the offender to aggressive tendencies towards human beings. Basically, there are some that call for stricter penalties. Below the reasons.

Here the link to a study that pretty much summarizes my understanding: http://www.oregonanimallaw.com/the-link-cruelty-to-animals-and-violence-towards-people

The link between animal abuse and violence towards people is supported by studies, which have shown that:
• 100% of sexual homicide offenders examined had a history of cruelty towards animals;
• 70% of all animal abusers have committed at least one other criminal offense, and almost 40% have committed violent crimes against people;
• 63.3% of men who had committed crimes of aggression admitted to cruelty to animals;
• 48% of rapists and 30% of child molesters reported committing animal abuse during childhood or adolescence;
• 36% of assaultive women reported cruelty to animals while 0% of non-assaultive women did;
• 25% of violent, incarcerated men reported higher rates of “substantial cruelty to animals” in childhood than a comparison group of non-incarcerated men (0%); and
• Men who abused animals were five times more likely to have been arrested for violence towards humans, four times more likely to have committed property crimes, and three times more likely to have records for drug and disorderly conduct offenses.

The correlation between domestic violence and animal abuse is supported by studies, which have shown that:
• 88% of 57 New Jersey families in which child abuse occurred also had incidents of animal abuse;
• 85% of women and 63% of children entering shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family;
• more than 80% of families being treated for child abuse were also involved in animal abuse;
• 70.3% of women in domestic abuse shelters reported either threats or actual harm to pets, with 54% reporting actual harm;
• 60% of families with child abuse and neglect also had pets that were abused or neglected;
• 32% of pet-owning victims of domestic abuse reported that one or more of their children had hurt or killed a pet;
• approximately 25% of the battered women reported that concern for their pets’ welfare had prevented them from seeking shelter sooner; and
• 12% of the reported intentional animal cruelty cases also involved some form of family violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, spouse/child witnessing animal cruelty, or elder abuse.