PAWS TO PONDER – The Warwick Valley Dispatch

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by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.

Did you know April 6 to April 12th is National Crime Victims Week?

From the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) “Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime. Every April, OVC leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of NCVRW. This year’s theme of KINSHIP is a call to action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime”.

April is National Cruelty to Animals Prevention month, coinciding with NCVRW. Thousands of animal abuse cases are reported every day. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse aren’t compiled by state or federal agencies. According to Petpedia, “animal abuse statistics reveal that most animal and pet abuse cases are never brought to light”. These animals are victims nonetheless. In no way is this article intended to overshadow human victims of crimes.

The link between animal abuse and human violence is a sobering reminder of the intricate relationship between cruelty to animals and potential harm to humans. From the National Link Coalition “Over the past 35 years, researchers and professionals in a variety of human services and animal welfare disciplines have established significant correlations between animal abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse and other forms of violence. Mistreating animals is no longer seen as an isolated incident that can be ignored: it is often an indicator or predictor crime and a “red flag” warning sign”. As an example, in one survey, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets. And in a study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88% of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children

A landmark study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. This statistical association underscores a critical warning sign for potential future violent behavior. The significance of recognizing animal abuse as a precursor to human violence cannot be overstated, especially in the realm of law enforcement and child welfare. Numerous studies have shown that many serial killers and perpetrators of violent crimes against humans have a history of animal abuse in their youth.

In the spirit of Kinship let us recognize that shared humanity should include recognizing abused, abandoned, and neglected animals as victims of crimes during Crime Victim Week and Prevention of Animal Cruelty month and every day of every year. “Until we have courage to recognize cruelty for what it is – whether its victim is human or animal – we cannot expect things to be much better in the world.