March 07, 2005
Information from midnightbunny
Cross-Posting the following information from a comment by midnightbunny on LJ Community, Hounds of Hell.
Violent acts toward animals have long been recognized as indicators of a violent psychopathology that does not confine itself to animals. "Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives," wrote humanitarian Albert Schweitzer. "Murderers...very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids," according to Robert K. Resler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Studies have now convinced sociologists, lawmakers, and the courts that acts of cruelty toward animals deserve our attention. They can be the first sign of a violent pathology that includes humans.
-- UnsolvedMysteries.com - "How Childhood Animal Abusers Evolve into Serial Killers/Rapist, Wife/Child Abusers, Criminals"
Cruelty to animals should be a felony offense. Both animals and people benefit when abusers are brought into the criminal justice system for sentencing or treatment. Fifteen states have already enacted felony cruelty laws.
-- Animal Protection of New Mexico - THE TANGLED WEB OF ANIMAL ABUSE: The Links between Cruelty to Animals and Human Violence
p.s. For your own peace of mind, you may want to get the following book: Dog Law (4th National Edition)
by Mary Randolph. My husband and I turned to that book years ago when we needed it to sue a veterinarian that had botched a neuter surgery on one of our dogs. It helped us so much with legal matters, and we were able to get the surgery details permanently added to that veterinarian's license record.
-- midnightbunny