Animal abuse and the human violence connection

A Belle Glade, FL man was charged today with animal cruelty after his dog was found so emaciated that she couldn’t walk. Eric Jones was charged with animal cruelty when his dog, ”Coco”, was found emaciated and chained in the yard with no food, water, or shelter.

It occurs to me that the incidences of animal cruelty is more wide-spread than the general public is aware. Further, many do not realize that there is a strong indicator that suggests that these actions often elevate to bigger and more tragic crimes. This is a critical public issue because there is a very strong link between those that are cruel to animals, and those that commit acts of violence against humans. Even the FBI’s own analysis of the pattern of behavior in serial killers shows that most serial killers started by torturing and/or killing animals. Further, signs of abuse or neglect in an animal can be indicators that spouses, children, or the elderly in that same household are being abused and/or neglected.

In my 12 years in the field, I have witnessed or medically treated the aftermaths of abuse and neglect such as:

• A German Shepherd that was hung by his back feet and gutted because his owner couldn’t housebreak him.
• A boxer hung noose-style from a tree.
• A woman whose neighbors 6-year old twin sons broke into her house and placed her 8-week old kitten in her clothing dryer and turned it on for several minutes.
• A dog whose owners poured an acid on her back and cut her face with a knife.
• Several dogs with collars so severely embedded into their necks, that they had to be surgically removed.
• Maggot infestation so severe that the animal either had to have reconstructive surgery, or be euthanized.

And these are just off of the top of my head.

Many times these incidences are easily brushed off as animal cruelty which most people find to be concerning, but not dangerous. It is important to consider that animal cruelty is often just the tip of the iceberg, and there is usually a much bigger issue brewing beneath the surface.

Sadly, the ramifications for these offenders in the legal system are generally minimal, at best. The owners of the dog who was doused in acid and cut with a knife received a $500 fine. That was considered a harsh penalty. While many make a good argument that the judicial system is simply too overburdened to accommodate those that have committed crimes against animals, I counter that they are going to end up in the system sooner or later. Later could, sadly, be after a human being has lost their life.

For more information, the Humane Society of the United States has a wonderful webpage devoted to this very issue: http://tinyurl.com/6×8b4