Strong Action Against Animal Cruelty Prevents Other Serious Crimes
Litigation - Article Series: from All-Creatures.org Articles Archive

FROM

The National Humane Education Society (NHES)
September 2014

In fact, the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of delinquency is so well established that the English philosopher and physician John Locke wrote about it in the year 1693 in his essay, “Of Cruelty.”

It all started as an animal cruelty complaint in a small town in North Carolina. Officers who responded to the call found six malnourished dogs – two adults and four puppies –on the property of a 25-year-old woman. All were alive but in need of swift veterinary care. The woman was given the choice to either relinquish the dogs to local animal control or provide them with necessary veterinary care within a week. The woman refused to do either, so the following week deputies equipped with a warrant took possession of the dogs. Once inside the home, the deputies found evidence of other crimes. By the end of the day, narcotics agents removed thirty-one bags of heroin and a .22 caliber pistol from the home. What started out as a misdemeanor animal cruelty case quickly turned into a situation involving possession of a firearm by a felon and a major drug bust.

Cases like this demonstrate just a few reasons why professionals in every stage of the legal process, from police officers to judges, must be empowered to take swift and strong action in animal cruelty cases.

First, when animal cruelty is addressed expediently, the animal victims have a greater chance of recovery. Second, the practices of starving, torturing, and killing animals serve as a major red flag that other crimes may be taking place.

Although crimes such as drug trafficking and child abuse may seem unrelated to animal cruelty, these serious crimes and others routinely occur in tandem with animal abuse and neglect. In fact, the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of delinquency is so well established that the English philosopher and physician John Locke wrote about it in the year 1693 in his essay, “Of Cruelty.”

Today, psychologists, criminal profilers, and police officers are even better acquainted with this reality through formal research and experience. Animal cruelty commonly occurs in conjunction with domestic abuse and drug trafficking. Willful acts of animal cruelty are also among the earliest and most accurate markers of a serial killer.

When animal abusers are arrested promptly, punished strictly, and imprisoned for longer periods of time, investigators have greater opportunities to both to help animals and find evidence of other crimes. Conversely, when animal cruelty calls are ignored, charges are weak, and jail sentences are short, dangerous criminals have more time and opportunity to live among us.

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