There are many individuals who harmed animals then later began to harm humans. There are many examples of those who hurt animals a child before they began to harm humans. As mentioned there was Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert Disalvo (aka the Boston Strangler) who both harmed animals before harming humans. To add to this list, there are several more, and in fact, it is generally regarded as a known occurrence for serial killers to be violent to animals in youth. Carroll Edward Cole, killer of 35, related that when he was a child he strangled a puppy as his first violent act. Edmund Emil Kemper killed neighborhood cats and displayed their heads on poles. He murdered and dismembered his own cat. Later, he would go on to kill eight women, one of which was his own mother.
Andrew Cunanan, murderer of five, used to gouge the eyes of crabs with matches as a child. Dennis Rader learned to blind, torture and kill on animals before moving on to humans. He later became known as the BTK Killer. David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam, shot his neighbor’s dog. He believed that God was the one instructing him to kill. Lee Boyd Malvo used to torture small animals and later became one of the DC Sniper team that killed ten in Washington DC. Brenda Spencer, who shot into a crowd of children and killed two, used to light the neighborhood cats’ and dogs’ tails on fire. Ted Bundy was a unique example. He actually was there when his father tortured small animals. Bundy learned from this and would eventually abuse animals and later kill 40 people. Other individuals who were serial killers that harmed animals early in their lives were Richard Chase and Gary Ridgeway.
School shootings have also had those who have harmed animals first. Some of the purpetrators shot dogs, set cats on fire, mutilated animals, blew up cows or killed small animals. These school shootings include: Pearl, Mississippi; West Paducah, Kentucky; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Littleton, Colorado; Conyers, Georgia; San Diego, California; Springfield, Oregon; Columbine, Colorado.
Its not just something done by people who are mass shooting or that are serial killers though. Students in a Missouri high school who had killed another student admitted to animal abuse. One of the three said he had killed so many cats he had lost count. The two brothers who murdered their parents, informed classmates that they had killed a cat.
There are some who hurt neighborhood animals, others hurt their own pets or family pets, while yet other people harmed wild animals. I do think that the illness(es) that may cause people to abuse animals may also lead to harming humans later. Children should learn to value animals as living. They should be taught that animals can feel pain and that they must be treated with love and respect. They should be shown that animals can be a good and beneficial being in human lives and that animal and human lives alike demand respect. Even some contract killers such as Richard Kuklinski are known to have been animal abusers in early childhood.
Animal abusers are known to mistreat children as well. Spouse abuse and Elder abuse are also known to be conducted by known animal abusers. Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA conducted a study in 1997 which indicated that almost 40% of animal abusers had also perpetrated violent crimes against humans. The FBI has known this since the 1970s however. Other studies indicate family abuse may be involved. In 2001-2004 study was conducted by the Chicago Police Department which showed 65% of those arrested for animal abuse had been arrested for battery against another person as well. Child abuse is abuse against a human (I know this goes without saying, but this is the primary connection here). Abusive people often abuse animals, move on to children, then later adults although obviously this is not always the case.
Stopping animal abuse in children can prevent later abuse to humans. There is a strong connection indicating there is an animal abuse and criminal violence link. Animal abuse relates to domestic abuse. If there is physical abuse to children, studies say there is an 88% chance of animal abuse in the household. Animal neglect may indicate abuse toward humans. Animal abuse is not normal. It is not normal for children to abuse animals. Stopping the abuse can end it in the tracks or hopefully prevent abuse to humans.
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