Animal Cruelty

Animal abuse is defined as socially unacceptable behavior that intentionally causes unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress to and/or death of an animal. Animal abuse ranges from the toddler pulling a kitten along by the tail to severe animal torture. Childhood abuse of animals is predictive of violent crime offending at a larger age as well as of committing property offenses, drug offenses, public disorder offenses, and exhibiting a range of antisocial problems. Witnessing of animal abuse may be a predictor of adolescent participation in animal abuse.

Research suggests a connection between child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and animal abuse. Animal abuse is more likely to occur in homes where intimate partner violence also occurs. animal cruelty by children may be associated with their exposure to family violence. according to the results of a Canadian study, children exposed to male-to-female family violence are significantly more likely to engage in cruelty to animals. the study found that their age and gender did not differ from children who were not cruel to animals. however, children exposed to family violence and who were cruel to animals were significantly older than non-exposed children who were cruel to animals.

Sexually abused children are more likely to be cruel to animals and to engage in bestiality as adolescents as compared to those without a history of maltreatment. bestiality is human-to-animal sexual activity. among sexually abused children, experiencing physical abuse increased animal cruelty among girls.

Juvenile animal abuse typologies:

Exploratory animal abuse- Adult intervention needed

- Poorly supervised children

- Lacking in humane education (teaching children to be kind)

Pathological animal abuse- Clinical intervention needed

- History of child abuse victimization

- Exposure to witnessing domestic violence

Delinquent animal abuse- Judicial and clinical intervention needed

-Torture of animal may be gang related

- Use of alcohol and other substances involved

Question: Regarding the material above, what is the importance of recognizing animal abuse to prevent violence in adolescents?