Animal Cruelty Linked to Violence Against Humans Researchers, the FBI and other agencies in the USA, have linked animal cruelty to domestic violence, child abuse, serial killings and the recent rash of killings by school- age children. Among the most notorious of those have been Albert DeSalvo (The Boston Strangler), Theodore Bundy, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), Jeffrey Dahmer, Marc Lepine, Carroll Edward Coleis and Martin Bryant - all with a history of animal torture and killing in their childhood. Five of six students in the USA who went on shooting rampages in 1999 had histories of animal cruelty in their childhoods. Kip Kinkel, 15, allegedly walked into his high school cafeteria and opened fire on his classmates. Two were killed and 22 others injured, four critically. Later that day police found his parents shot to death in their home. It was reported by family and friends Kinkel had a history of animal abuse. He often bragged about torturing and killing animals. Mitchell Johnson, 13 and Andrew Golden, 11, allegedly shot and killed four students and a teacher at their school. A friend of Andrew's said he shot dogs "all the time with a.22". Luke Woodham, 16, stabbed his mother to death then went to his high school where he shot and killed two classmates and injured seven others. Prior to the killings Woodham stated in his personal journal that he and an accomplice beat, burned and tortured his dog Sparkle to death. There is a gruesome litany of case histories of killers, rapists, batterers and child abusers who "practised" on animals when they were children.

People who abuse animals rarely stop there Studies show that people who abuse their pets are also likely to abuse their kids. Neglected Animals, Neglected Children... It is estimated that 88% of animals living in households with domestic violence are either abused or killed. Of all the women in America who enter shelters to escape abuse, 57% have had companion animals killed by the batterer. Neglect of companion animals can be indicative of neglect to children in the family. Officials in the UK and the USA are now trained to observe animals' food and water bowls and other signs of neglect. Veterinarians are learning to look for warning signs of abuse in animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association's position statement is: "The AVMA recognises that veterinarians have occasion to observe cases of cruelty to animals, animal abuse or animal neglect as defined by state law or local ordinances. When these observations occur, the AVMA considers it the responsibility of the veterinarian to report such cases to the appropriate authorities. Such disclosures may be necessary to protect the health and welfare of animals and people." Cruelty to animals is a crime and must be treated as such. It is also a symptom of disturbed individuals and families and a predictor of other problems in the making. Court action in Australia and around the world against those who harm animals has been minimal but increasing numbers of overseas courts are recognizing that early intervention may be very effective in preventing on-going crime. Cases of severe or repeated violence against animals demands criminal punishment as well as psychiatric treatment. Ideally such treatment should reach the entire family not just the abuser

www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~bzbriger/papers/animals.html