The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome - NY Times Magazine

[Twocents]

Wanton cruelty toward animals is a phenomenon that a growing number of professionals — including police officers, prosecutors, psychologists, social workers, animal-control officers, veterinarians and dogcatchers — are now addressing with a newfound vigor...

"In addition to a growing sensitivity to the rights of animals, another significant reason for the increased attention to animal cruelty is a mounting body of evidence about the link between such acts and serious crimes of more narrowly human concern, including illegal firearms possession, drug trafficking, gambling, spousal and child abuse, rape and homicide."

Published June 7, 2010
By CHARLES SIEBERT
New York Times Magazine

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/ma...ighting&st=cse

[Twocents]

Why animal abuse must be taken seriously by police, and properly investigated.

[NoahGrey]

Our animal cruelty laws around the world, dictate what and how we feel about animals. Its very sad. It doesn't help that animals are considered property and the out of sight, out of mind mentality. And geesh i think everyone knows that animal abuse and volience against humans are linked together. Give us something new NY times.

[hazelrunpack]

Originally Posted by NoahGrey

And geesh i think everyone knows that animal abuse and volience against humans are linked together. Give us something new NY times.

I don't think a lot of people equate the two, NG. Lots of clueless people out there! The only way to change the laws is to get people fired up about the issue--and newspapers can be a great venue for educating. I'm glad they ran the article! Now we need another few thousand articles like it in papers all around North America

[ancientgirl]

I agree with Hazel. I'm glad this is being brought out to the open more and not just kept quiet. People need to see what their neighbors, kids, friends, or anybody really is capable of.

[Twocents]

The article is easiest to read if you click on the print version because there's several pages.

Originally Posted by NoahGrey

Our animal cruelty laws around the world, dictate what and how we feel about animals.

Laws reflect how some people view animals. This article is about the importance of taking animal abuse seriously, the benefits of humane education, the benefits of pets & the therapeutic effects of animals.

Originally Posted by NoahGrey

And geesh i think everyone knows that animal abuse and volience against humans are linked together. Give us something new NY times.

Cities, police forces, animal control - everybody is on a tight budget. While many know there's a correlation between animal abuse & violence against people, animal abuse will only get investigated if there's data to PROOVE it's worth investigating.

Everyone who suspects animal abuse needs to know WHY they should feel obligated to report it, the same as if they suspect domestic violence or child abuse.

Many times it DOES get reported, but the police decide it's not a priority. The police are directed from the top down. If our city councils makes it a priority, they will instruct the police to investigate it to the full extent of the law. That means gathering evidence, etc. Further training of police will be required.

We need to tell our city councils that we want animal abusers investigated. If current laws are not adequate, we need to amend them or write new ones.

The data shows that "in homes where there was domestic violence or physical abuse of children, the incidence of animal cruelty was close to 90 percent".

Knowing this, could our police forces & city councils be held partly responsible for allowing domestic violence or child abuse to continue because they don't fully investigate animal abuse cases?

Ultimately, you and I are really the ones responsible, because we tell our politicians what's important.

[Golden Girls]

Thank you for posting this very interesting (and disturbing ) article. I don't think this conclusion is meant to be surprising but definately worth repeating and repeating until ... we need tougher laws Some of us are simply rotten while others are just plain evil.

Originally Posted by Twocents

Ultimately, you and I are really the ones responsible, because we tell our politicians what's important.

Good Point

[mastifflover]

Good info and worth the read. I thought it was common knowledge that animal abuse is the first signs of something very wrong with a person. Most serial killers started as animal abusers