Coinciding with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Michigan State Police (MSP) have released data showing a huge rise in the number of animal abuse reports in the state.
Incidents of reported animal cruelty in Michigan soared from 93 in 2016, to 202 in 2017 and 297 in 2018 — an increase of a staggering 301% in just three years. In addition, animal abuse crimes rose by about 100 cases annually in the same time period, according to MSP’s Michigan Incident Crime Report, “Crime at A Glance.”
These rising figures are worrying in themselves, but there is further concern because animal abuse has been linked to domestic violence, with individuals who hurt animals being far more likely to carry out domestic violence offenses as well as other violent crimes.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says there is a clear link between these two areas of crime, it explains that individuals who abuse their partners frequently have a history of animal abuse that precedes their domestic violence offenses. It also highlights the fact that “abusers demonstrate power and control over the family by threatening, harming or killing animals.”
In its “Pets And Domestic Violence” report, the organization states that 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence, and a massive 71% of pet owners who enter a shelter say their abuser had previously threatened, hurt or murdered a family pet. In addition, the investigation of reported animal cruelty within a household often leads to social services discovering hidden domestic abuse in that household.
If you need help regarding animal cruelty or domestic abuse, you can contact the American Humane Association on 303-792-9900 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE.
What’s New…
Tous les tortionnaires et lâches tueurs d’animaux doivent être condamnés à de la prison ferme, une forte amende avec interdiction “à vie” d’avoir ou d’approcher un animal !
This study & its results are long overdue. I hope that its conclusions can help to provide stiffer penalties for animals abusers.
To reduce animal abuse , owners should limit possibilities by prevrenting their pets from roaming , supervising them closely and bring protective . It will mean more work , but it will save lives . Also very importantly , join and support PeTA, the most effective Animal Rights and Welfare Organization in the World. The work they do all over the World and what they achieve is incredible.
We need to prosecute the abusers not just fines!
Hard to be peaceful when this world is so crule. They’re needs to be justice for these animals that are abused. People need to have consequences for they’re horrible crimes.
Friends who work in women’s shelters have told me for years that the kids/women have seen their pets repeatedly abused by their male partners as a form or warning to them to do as told. this is not new. Animals/pets need to be provided shelter as well as women/kids – many women leave because spouses threaten to harm their pet – a companion who has stood by them in life. There should be programs in all areas where animal shelters/women shelter work hand in hand – it’s a family thing and must be treated as such.
Absolutely true. Even though I was not physically abused by my ex, I was psychologically abused. The first line of demands in my divorce papers was that I take possession of my dog. My dog, Buster, was THAT important to me as a companion.
Why must the innocent suffer? They deserve a home where they can live happily.
We as a society are dumbing down with poor standards. So sad for the future!
Cruelty needs to STOP!
Cruelty MUST stop!
Stop such barbaric cruelty
The courts have known about the correlation between serial killers and animal abusers for decades and yet do nothing about It, other than be complicit in the ongoing abuse. Now they do the same with domestic and animal abuse. Incompetence or compliance? Which is It?
Well duh! As the rise of drug personalities continues, the violence will continue to escalate. Drug use has a distinctive commonality. It seriously decreases human tolerance , and it takes away the human’s ability to control anger.
Wake up society! It’s only going to get worse.
Nice family comments too good for Animal abusers. Horrifying!
Where’s the court system—up Mike’s ass I suppose!
Violence towards animals is no less important than that of people and both should be taken seriously.
Save all these animals from abusers. Get a stricter animal abuse law.I hope in the near future,every time an animal is abused they r sentenced to the max of 99 years. The law is too lenient. The animals have feelings and emotions just like people. Lets treat mans best friend better than we r doing.HOPE WE PASS AN ANIMAL ABUSE LAW SOON IN ALL 50 STATES.
Any person who would hurt an innocent, defenseless animal is capable of hurting people as well. They need to suffer to the maximum extent of the law.
Far too soft on Animal Abuse throw them in jail give large fines to help animal shelters.The Public is sick to death of all these cases and a slap on the wrist for cruelty.Some thing harsher has to be done regarding these animal abusers and now not next year.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the rise in animal abuse crimes in America is linked to the pitiful and inadequate punishments metered out to the offenders. In so many states the courts either hand out a fine or ban the abusers from keeping an animal again (how is that even enforced?). Throw them in jail for a long time – at least that way they cannot harm any animals.
I have read so many stories of animal abuse and the abuser gets a slap on the hand it breaks my heart 💔.
Every state needs tougher laws against animal abuse!! Severe punishment for crimes against animals! The public is sick of these low life people harming animals!! Enough!
Stop the cruel sport of horse racing by not going ton horse races. The American people are morons, most of them any way. Last Freethinkers are NOT! We have a brain and we use it to fight animal injustice and cruelty. So fight the good fight and spread the word to boycott horse racing.
The laws have to be made stricter..make examples of these vile humans. Give them the death penalty.
This does not surprise me.
This is something that we animal advocates have known forever. Just waiting for our legal system to catch up.
This has got to be addressed and stopped.
It is a natural progression for children to torture animals, adults to murder, torture animals and adults. why has it taken so long for “studies” to figure this out. children are made numb to violence thru games and comics, cartoons and movies. as adults they are numb to the suffering of animals and fellow humans, IT HAS BECOME “NORMAL” TO DO VIOLENCE TO OTHERS,
Knowing that animal abuse and domestic violence are linked, you would think that someone accused and convicted of animal cruelty would be punished severely or at least taken more seriously than it is.
This news is all the more heralding when you consider that there may well be many domestic abuse cases and animal cruelty cases that remain unreported.
looks like stronger laws need to be enacted…. huge fines and longer jail time without bail
When abusers get caught they are not punished enough it’s worth doing the crime knowing their bit of fun will continue once they are released.
THIS INSANITY MUST STOP NOW! SEVERE LAWS MUST BE PASSED AND THEN ENFORCED AGAINST THESE MONSTERS! WE THE PUBLIC ARE WATCHING AND WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THESE POOR ANIMALS!
appalling