How sad to think that a person would hurt, maim or kill an innocent animal. But if someone does this, it usually does not stop there. Studies show that a person who hurts an animal escalates the violence, hurting children, and then adults. "About a third [of serial killers] said they killed and tortured animals as children, and about half said they did it as adolescents."-Los Angeles Times Magazine. "…every single serial killer I have interviewed has told of an animal being killed in his presence by his parent…"-Sondra London 'Serial Killers Talk To Sondra London'. Many murderers begin their successful careers as torturers, mutilators and killers of animals:

Pearl, Mississippi's sixteen year-old Luke Woodham tortured and set fire to his own dog, Sparkle. Later, he stabbed his mother to death, then went to school, shooting fellow students. Springfield, Oregon's fifteen-year old Kipland Kinkel murdered his parents, then opened fire on his school cafeteria, killing 4 and wounding 22 students. He had often bragged of torturing and killing small animals, including his cat. San Diego, California's Brenda Spencer had a history of setting the tails of dogs and cats on fire, fired shots at a school, killing two children and injuring nine others. Earl Kenneth Shriner, rapist and murderer of a 7-year-old boy was known for inserting firecrackers into the rectums of dogs and hanging cats. To see a list of many more, click here Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Link Between Animal and Human Violence Animal Abuse & Human Abuse: Partners in Crime PETA Factsheet: Animal Abuse & Human Abuse Animal Cruelty Hits Home Animal Abuse/Child Abuse And what will is society in store for when the perpetrators get older? Dante Washington, of Bexar County, TX Animal Cruelty Actionline Cat/kitten killers at Noah's Ark, Fairfield, IA Tragedy at Noah's Ark Scruffy's torturers and killers, Kansas City, KS Scruffy's Story 12-year old neighbor boy who eviscerated Peanut. Amazingly, Peanut survived. Abuse of animals is also an indication that other types of abuse are present in a home. "Since animal abuse has also been found to be an indication of child abuse, it becomes even more imperative that these acts be investigated. In fact it has been found that animals are abused in 88% of the families where children are abused."-Humane Education News, 1997. Even if the abuse of children is not concurrent with that of the animal/pet abuse, history shows that it can easily move into that direction. Animal cruelty often tied to human abuse Humane Officers Help Fight Child Abuse Animal cruelty: a sign of other abuse? "Abusive men frequently use pets to manipulate women's emotions, beating, shooting, disemboweling, strangling or drowning an animal if the woman tries to leave. These abusers make women watch as they kill the animal, sometimes even forcing them to have sex with a pet, saying, in effect, "This is what I can do, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. You may be next."-On the Issues-The Progressive Woman's Quarterly Though the animal abuse in itself may not be enough for legislation, thankfully, lawmakers are taking notice of these trends. The result will be more protection for animals in the long run. What can I do? Voice your concerns to your State Legislators Animal Cruelty Investigation Group Right in your own 'backyard'" In November of 1998, Baltimore County police officer, Burl Vernon Joseph starved his family's dog to death, as an act to torment his wife. This crime has never been prosecuted, and Officer Joseph remains on the police force. If you are outraged by this situation, please write to: Mr. Joseph Cassilly, Harford County State's Attorney's Office 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 fax: (410) 838-2023 Mr. Jeff Michaels, Harford County State's Attorney's Office 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 Fax: (410) 838-2023 If you feel he should be dismissed immediately, write of call: Police Chief Terrance Sheridan, Baltimore County Police Department 700 East Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286 Fax: (410) 887-4945 (Names withheld) Marion County, FL Two brothers, 13 and 15, tortured their kitten, because "they were bored" by throwing them against a tree and forcing pills down their throats. Though near death, the kitten was returned to the family. Demand they be tried as adults by writing to: Mr. Bradley E. King, State Attorney's Office, Juvenile Division 19 North West Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 32670 Fax: (352) 620-3365 For other cases, see Animal Cruelty Actionline

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