A Message From The Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention
Although legal definitions of animal abuse vary, it
is a crime in every State, and many States have enacted laws
establishing certain forms of cruelty to animals as felony
offenses. The forms of abuse to which animals may be subjected are
similar to the forms of abuse children experience, including
physical abuse, serious neglect, and even psychological
abuse.
It has been said that violence begets violence,
but what do we know about the nature of the relationship between
the abuse of animals and aggressive behavior towards human
beings?
This Bulletin describes psychiatric,
psychological, and criminal research linking animal abuse to
violence perpetrated by juveniles and adults.
Particular attention is focused on the prevalence
of cruelty to animals by children and adolescents and to the role
of animal abuse as a possible symptom of conduct disorder. In
addition, the motivations and etiology underlying the maltreatment
of animals are thoroughly reviewed.
The abuse of sentient creatures demands our
attention. The Bulletin includes recommendations to curb such
cruelty, while providing contact information for additional
resources concerned with violence perpetrated against animals and
people.
It is our hope that the information that this
Bulletin offers will contribute to reducing both forms of
violence.
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