News: Violent Acts Against Humans Begins with Animals.

Does cruelty to animals lead to cruelty to people?

Research confirms a strong correlation between violence against animals and violence toward humans. It is now widely recognized that perpetrators of violent behavior are more likely to have participated in violent acts against both children and animals, and that the seeds of their behavior were planted in early childhood--often being passed down through similar behavior by a parent or other significant adult. Parents, community leaders, prosecutors, judges, and others concerned with violence in communities are coming to recognize the importance of animal cruelty as an indicator of disturbed family relationships and future aggressive behavior towards humans.

Because violence towards animals springs from the same causes as violence towards humans, we can no longer pass off childhood animal abuse as a phase. The evidence is compelling--

A 1997 study conducted by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that over a 20 year period, a group of 153 animal abusers were five times more likely to commit violent crimes, four times more likely to commit property crimes, and three times more likely to have drug or disorderly conduct offenses than a matched group of 153 non-animal abusers.
In a study of men imprisoned for violent crimes versus a group of non-incarcerated, nonviolent individuals, 25% of the violent criminals reported "substantial cruelty" towards animals in their childhood, while none of the non-incarcerated men reported a history of animal cruelty.
In a similar study of assaultive women offenders, 36% reported a history of animal abuse compared to none of the non-assaultive women.
In a study of 53 families being treated for incidents of child abuse, 60% also abused animals. In two-thirds of the cases, it was the abusive parent who had killed or injured the animals to control a child. In one-third, the children had abused the animals, using them as scapegoats for their anger.
In a study of 28 incarcerated sexual-homicide perpetrators (all men), researchers found that 36% had abused animals in their childhood and 46% in adolescence.
In a study using a sample of 64 men, 48% of convicted rapists and 30% of convicted child molesters reported cruelty to animals during their childhood or adolescence.

Research also indicates that

Young people who are cruel to animals may become aggressive toward humans later in life.
Children raised with intense coercion may imitate this behavior with animals and people.
Children learn cruel behaviors from adults and may reenact them on animals.
Children abuse animals to release the aggression they feel toward abusive adults or because of psychological trauma.

Funded by a grant from The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust, The Link™ National Resource Center exists as an informational service for both human-serving and animal-serving professionals. The AHA is proud to operate the Resource Center as an extension of both our children and animal advocacy work.

All research mentioned above can be obtained through The Link™ Resource Center at 1-877-LINK-222 or e-mail Link@americanhumane.org.

We are anxious to help you make changes in your own community. Contact Kristen Mahlin at Link@americanhumane.org

Website: http://www.americanhumane.org