Breaking the Cycle of Violence


© Dorothy Hoffman
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Mar 1, 2001


Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people at their school and then themselves, using an arsenal of guns and pipe bombs they'd accumulated and assembled in their homes. In the aftermath of the carnage, friends reported that Harris had enjoyed smashing the heads of mice and lighting them on fire, and Klebold's parents were apparently well aware that he had firearms which he used to kill woodpeckers.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

Special FBI Agent Alan Brantley, who works in the bureau's behavioral science unit, reports "This [animal cruelty] is not a harmless venting of emotion in a healthy individual; this is a warning sign that this individual needs some sort of intervention."

Though many police officials, social service agencies, and courts still dismiss animal cruelty cases with a "slap on the wrist," public pressures are beginning to have an effect on the way these cases are treated. Twenty-one states have felony animal cruelty laws, and California now requires psychiatric counseling for animal cruelty offenders.

Organizations like the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) are working to break the cycle of abuse, joining forces with the FBI and law enforcement to present public seminars on the link between animal abuse and domestic violence. Working with the Gresham, Oregon, Police Department, ALDF has sponsored a seminar to educate police officers on the significance and seriousness of animal cruelty crimes, and more seminars are planned for the future.

Another ALDF project, the "Cycle of Violence Roundtable," gathers representative from child protection, animal welfare, and domestic violence organizations to meet regularly and share information to reduce violence in the community.

Not to hurt our humble brethren is the first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -- to be of service to them wherever they require it. - St. Francis of Assissi

RESOURCES

Animal Cruelty Actionline: call (503) 231-8480 or e-mail action@aldf.org

Humane Society of the U.S., First Strike Campaign

Animals' Hope Petition Team

Animal Legal Defense Fund

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
5.   Aug 22, 2001 9:11 PM
Excellent points about the connection between animal abuse and indicia of proclivity toward violence against people. Great illustrations to drive home the points.

Thank you for submitting this to t ...

-- posted by vivavoce
4.   Jul 8, 2001 1:45 PM
there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
thank for sharing this piece

samir

-- posted by philwildlife
3.   May 2, 2001 8:41 PM
Well documented and convincing article. Thank you for writing on this difficult subject.

-- posted by JButler
2.   Mar 2, 2001 8:27 AM
In response to message posted by Renie_Burghardt:

Very well written, factual article. Thank you for presenting such a difficu ...

-- posted by AnneWatkins
1.   Mar 2, 2001 6:24 AM
Hi Dorothy, thank you for this important article. I hope it truly opens people's eyes. It's been proven, as you say, that children who are cruel to animals, will grow up to be cruel adults, unless h ...

-- posted by Renie_Burghardt



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