Humane Education

Violence to Humans & Animals—an important link

Studies have shown there is a link between animal abuse and violence toward people. Information is emerging that demonstrates this connection through empirical research and dramatic real-life stories. Below are just a few frightening examples of each:

• "In 88% of families where physical abuse occurred, animals in that home were also abused. In about two-thirds of the cases, the abusive parent had killed or injured the animal to discipline the child." (Deviney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983)
• A study of 28 convicted sexual homicide perpetrators found that prevalence of cruelty to animals was 36% in childhood and 46% in adolescence. (Ressler, Burgess & Douglas, 1988)
• A history of animal abuse is so common among criminals, the FBI's profiles of serial killers include histories of animal abuse.
• Jeffrey Dahmer impaled frogs and cats and decapitated dogs as a child. As an adult, he killed and dismemberred 17 people.
• David Berkowitz killed a number of his neighbor's pets as a youth. When he grew up, he became New York City's "Son of Sam" murderer.
• Twelve-year-old Eric Smith strangled his neighbor's cat with a garden hose, which was dismissed as a prank. One year later, he murdered a four-year-old neighbor.
• Brenda Spencer abused dogs and cats as a little girl by setting their tails on fire. As a grown woman, she fired 40 shots at San Diego school children, killing two and wounding nine.

Every year, more than one million children nationally are confired as victims of abuse and/or neglect in the U.S. At the same time, thousands of our companion animals also fall victim to malicious cruelty and other forms of violence, often within the same cycle of family violence. In keeping with its unique mission to protect children and animals, the American Humane Association's Children's Division has continued efforts in this area. As a member of the American Humane Association, NHA encourages you to learn more about this link to human violence by visiting AHA's website.