I am the alohaaloha Zenster spoke of…
People who are violent to animals rarely stop there.
Violent acts toward animals have long been recognized as indicators of a dangerous psychopathy 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 Dr. Albert Schweitzer. “Murderers … very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids,” according to Robert K. Ressler, 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 human victims.
Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser but rather a symptom of a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty toward animals don’t stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans.
The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers, and the standard diagnostic and treatment manual for psychiatric and emotional disorders lists cruelty to animals as a diagnostic criterion for conduct disorders.
A study conducted by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. The majority of inmates scheduled to be executed for murder at California’s San Quentin penitentiary “practiced” their crimes on animals, according to the warden.
In addition, I used to facilitate an animal abuse segment in a “Victim Awareness” class for a southern California county juvenile probation department. My students, ages 11-17, were both incarcerated and out on probation (knowing the next screw-up could land them in a “facility”). More times than not…and more boys than not…abused animals in some manner prior to being arrested for car-jacking, theft, assault, you name it.
The “Chubz” case is how I met Zenster. His dog, Zen, was in the same emergency clinic as was Chubz, a cat who was tied to a railroad track by juvenile boys, doused with gas and set on fire. (See http://www.svaca.com/ourservices.htm#cruelty for more information.)
Here are just a few notable examples of serial criminals who tortured animals:
• As a child, serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy—ultimately convicted of two killings but suspected of murdering more than 40 women—witnessed his father’s violence toward animals, and he himself subsequently tortured animals.
• Earl Kenneth Shriner, who raped and stabbed a 7-year-old boy, was known in his neighborhood for hanging cats and torturing dogs.
• David Berkowitz (a.k.a. “Son of Sam”), who pleaded guilty to 13 murder and attempted murder charges, shot a neighbor’s Labrador retriever.
• Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a California school, killing two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused cats and dogs, often setting their tails on fire.
• Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of dogs and cats on sticks.
Can they be rehabilitated? I doubt it, but I am not an expeert in that field. I can tell you, though, that there was a least one person I “got through to” in each class of 30. The kids were required to send thank you notes to all the presentors. I would get at least one, each time, that s/he said they would no longer abuse any living creature after seeing the horrible pictures, videos and stories I had to tell. THAT makes it worth doing what I do.
Mahao Nui Loa, Zenster, for recommending the thread.
The pweeta link may have been a little off color. (I still think it is funny as hell… perhaps a graphic warning would have sufficed.) Apologies,