In the early 1970s, notorious serial killer Ted Bundy began a brutal killing spree that likely resulted in the death of more than 100 innocent victims. He admitted to the murder of 36 women.
About two decades earlier, Bundy tortured defenseless dogs and cats.
Similar stories are true of Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, “The Boston Strangler” Albert DeSalvo, and many others. But the connection between early animal abuse and later human abuse isn’t confined to serial killers.
Animal cruelty is linked to all forms of human abuse, from domestic violence to sexual assault.
Despite clear evidence suggesting the connection between animal abuse and future criminal behavior, authorities have failed to treat cases of animal cruelty with the same severity as violence against humans. They allow murderers like Bundy to hone their sadism without consequence.
Until January 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) filed animal abuse under the “All Other Offenses” category in their National Incident-Based Reporting System.
But then John Thompson, the current deputy executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association, stepped in.
Thompson, who has close to four decades of law enforcement experience, didn’t initially recognize that harming animals is a strong indicator of future violent crimes against people – what some call “The Link.”
“I spent 35 years in law enforcement and couldn’t have cared less about animal abuse,” Thompson admitted to The Atlantic. “I was stupid. No one was educated.”
When he did make the connection, Thompson pressured the FBI’s policy advisory board to create a separate category for filing animal abuse, which the agency did.
That decision may save lives.
It’s worth noting that not every person who abuses animals has committed or will commit another crime. But harming people is statistically more likely when animal cruelty is involved. And animal cruelty must be taken seriously.
Animal Cruelty and Murder

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The link between animal torture and the world’s most sadistic serial killers has long been established.
Ted Bundy tortured his pets. Jeffrey Dahmer decapitated dogs and nailed cats to trees. John Wayne Gacy set turkeys on fire with gasoline-filled balloons. Albert DeSalvo stuffed helpless dogs and cats into boxes and shot them with arrows. Dennis Rader, or the “BTK Killer,” hanged cats and dogs.
All of these heinous crimes occurred during the killers’ childhoods.
Recent studies also have revealed that many school shooters also abused animals prior to turning their guns on people.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, of the Columbine High School shooting, bragged about mutilating animals to their classmates. Kip Kinkel, before his attack on Thurston High School parents and students, blew up cows and decapitated cats. Luke Woodham , who murdered his mother and two schoolmates at Pearl High School, wrote in his journal about setting his dog Sparkle on fire.
Unfortunately, animals are easy first victims for killers.
“Animal abuse is often the first sign of serious disturbance among adolescent and adult killers,” Gail F. Melson, professor emerita of developmental studies at Purdue University, wrote in Psychology Today.
Without severe consequences for animal cruelty, killers will continue to escape the penalty and psychological intervention needed to prevent future crimes.
Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence

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Household pets are often used as a way to control or further harm victims in cases of domestic violence.
Domestic violence survivors have reported in studies that their abusers threatened to kill, torture, or otherwise harm their companion animals — or actually followed through on the threats — to prevent them from leaving their abusive situations.
Abusers also use animal abuse or threats against survivor’s beloved animals to isolate victims and children, to eliminate competition for attention, and to force the family to keep violence a secret, according to an article published via the Animal Legal and Historical Center.
This cruel behavior is commonplace for domestic violence victims, with more than 85% of women entering shelters discussing incidents of pet abuse in their families.
Another study, published in Violence Against Women, found that women in domestic abuse shelters were 10 times more likely to report their partner had hurt or killed their pet, compared to a group of women who had not experienced intimate violence.
The violence toward animals harms more than just the pets; victims of domestic violence also suffer trauma and fear, which makes escaping their abusers.
Animal Cruelty and Child Abuse

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In households prone to family violence, animals are often the first victims of abuse, followed by children, according to Cynthia Hodges.
The statistics supporting a direct link between animal and child abuse are staggering:
- 88% of families surveyed that had incidents of child abuse also had incidents of animal abuse
- 63% of children entering shelters admitted to incidents of pet abuse in their families
- More than 80% of families being treated for child abuse reported animal abuse in their homes
- More than 60% of families with child abuse and neglect also had pets that endured abuse and neglect
But it gets worse: When violence becomes “normal,” some children sometimes push the boundaries of their own desensitization by becoming animal abusers themselves.
More than 30% of pet-owning victims of domestic abuse reported that their children had hurt or killed a pet, according to a survey by the Humane Society of the United States.
Why do children who are abused, or witness abuse, sometimes become abusers themselves?
A report published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health posits that severe and prolonged trauma, especially when experienced at a young age, can stunt children’s emotional and social development. Some children therefore become less empathetic toward animals and more likely to copy the abuse they see in their homes.
Randall Lockwood, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)’s senior vice president for forensic sciences and anti-cruelty projects, also described how witnessing animal abuse can have a severe psychological impact on children.
Lockwood described how children suppress their feelings toward pets as a coping mechanism for the pain they experience when watching persistent animal abuse. This negatively impacts healthy empathetic development. In certain cases, children kill their pets themselves to gain control over the situation and end the animals’ suffering, Lockwood said.
Animal cruelty must be taken more seriously if this vicious cycle of abuse is ever going to end.
Animal Cruelty and Sexual Assault

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Bestiality is a taboo subject, but the practice exists and is part of the animal cruelty problem.
According to one study, of the juveniles who admitted to sexually abusing animals, 96% also abused humans.
“The results suggest that animal sex offending may be linked to other criminal behavior,” the study concluded.
While reliable scientific data on the prevalence of bestiality is limited, preliminary studies suggest sexual abuse toward animals is a pervasive and underreported issue with infrequent penalties. Complicating the matter is a lack of state and federal legislation prohibiting the inhumane acts.
Engaging in sex with animals is actually legal in four states — Wyoming, Hawaii, New Mexico, and West Virginia — and the District of Columbia. In more than 20 states, bestiality is only a misdemeanor crime.
There are no federal laws against sexual abuse to animals.
The leniency in existing legislation means that people who commit bestiality often go unpunished. Of 456 bestiality-related arrests made over the last 40 years in the United States, less than 40% resulted in prosecution.
The lack of prosecution also means the animal abusers are free to go on to commit crimes against people: More than 50% of animal sex offenders had prior or subsequent criminal records, including human sexual abuse.
Animal Cruelty and Non-Violent Crimes

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Research also shows a positive correlation between animal abuse and nonviolent crimes, like theft and drug use.
One study, published in Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence, found that men who abused animals were four times more likely to have committed property crimes and three times more likely to have committed drug and disorderly conduct offenses.
Another study, on the relationship of animal abuse to violence and other forms of antisocial behavior, published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, sampled persons ranging in age from 11 to 76 years. Of those sampled, over 40 percent of animal abusers had committed property crimes (compared to about 10 percent of non-abusers), and over 35 percent of animal abusers had committed drug and disorderly conduct offenses (compared to slightly over 10 percent of non-abusers).
Animal Cruelty Is a Human Problem

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Animal cruelty is a serious offense and is predictive of past and future criminal activity, from violent mass murders to minor drug offenses. In this area — as in many others, ranging from zoonotic disease to combating climate change — helping animals is helping people.
By taking animal cruelty more seriously, policymakers and law enforcement will save lives. Animal and human victims will be safer. Abusers can receive the psychological intervention necessary to prevent violent crimes in the future. Ultimately, the world will be a more peaceful and compassionate place.

I don’t care a flying fig about that! NO ONE should ever be cruel to ANY animal ever and that is that!! listen up you people We are going to fight you with everything we Have and you will land in JAIL hopefully forever.
ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS !!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely appalling that sex with animals is legal in certain states in America. How is that even acceptable in any civilised society. America should hang its head in shame.
Punishments must be sever enough to deter animal abuse in all forms worldwide.
Thank you for this article on animal cruelty is indeed a human problem.
How does dog-fighting and cock-fighting fit into this? I CANNOT understand how so many people can stand around watching the gruesome violence at these “events” and do nothing but continue betting.
I am sick of this animal cruelty…what the hell has the world come to!!! Has to stop n stop now!!!
I want my children to grow up in a world where people show respect for all living things. Animals should not be treated as criminals through torture, imprisonment and distance from proximity to caring. It is the perpetrators, all those who torture animals unjustly, who must be stopped.
Peaceful and family friendly comments. Hard to do after reading that. Eye for an eye is as peaceful as I’m going to write.
Psychopathic humans begin their murderous careers using animals and progress from there to humans. It proves that man is not far enough removed from his wild ancestors!
Psychopathic humans begin their murderous careers using animals and progress from there to humans. It proves that man is not far enough removed from his wild ancestors!
La Loi du Talion contre tous ces monstres !
I love animals , reading about how lowlife evil humans abuse them made me cry .
We need a more severe punishment ,the abusers should be registered and never be allowed to own a pet or work with animals again. That’s the only way we can control the abuse of people.
It’s a fact that most people no. It must be recognised in law.
I like this article ,,
Need to get a gripe. If they harm animals,what .makes u think killing humans r next. No human or animal deserves any treatment like that. I hope they make it a law in all states that the abusers on put on a registry for abused animals. Hope the maggots go to prison for years. Let them get mistreated in prison. That proves that the abusers is a coward. Need bubba to beat his ass.
What good are these human madmen? No good at all they need the rope until they die. They will NEVER change why should they the law lets them get away with it. Innocent animals pay the price as usual.
This is not news. Lawmakers knows for decades and choose to ignore the issue. It’s that simple.
We need to stand up for the animals. They can’t defend themselves against abuse, they only give us love unconditionally.
Even if animal abusers never move on to harming people, it should still be treated as a horrific crime. Causing and inflicting fear and torture upon any being that feel emotional terror and pain should be a major felony.
BLOG : OS ANIMAIS PEDEM SOCORRO E JUSTIÇA! http://wwwsossocorramosanimais.blogspot.com/
We’ve known for a very long time that there’s a correlation between animal abusers and the abuse of people….So, when are we finally going to change the laws to better protect animals? When will animal abuse become a felony, as it should? And, why are we taking so long to make this proper move a reality? Common sense says individuals that abuse animals are not only just garbage, they eventually “graduate” and move on to people. They ALWAYS do….Many lives could be spared if this is taken more seriously. They’re a waste of flesh. Let’s do the right thing and make them pay dearly, instead of just a “slap on the wrist”. Abuse is abuse. Animals are innocent. It doesn’t get much sicker than to abuse an innocent.
animal cruelty & human cruelty go hand in hand. Animal abusers also will abuse humans! they don’t give a fu–!
I’m happy to sign petitions but find your photos and wording to graphic for me…. please don’t as for donations as I am not able to. Thanks
there’s nothing “STARTLING” about this. It’s been reported for decades, which is why the court system and the police need to get with the program and arrest and prosecute. No more slaps on the wrist. No more excuses. Enough.
Sadistic humans who torture animals first and then graduate to the torture and killing of humans need to be incarcerated forever or put to sleep permanently. There is no hope for these sub-humans.
Jesus Come Quickly!
Animal abuse must be taken more seriously. They are sentient beings and deserve to be treated as such. Adult abusers should put to sleep and youthful offendsers should receive psychological counselling.
Animal abuse, animal cruelty must end! We must respect all living Sentient beings, we must show compassion and respect. Including each other.
Please defend animals and humans and end the violence
This is disturbing and very sad.
ALL ANIMALS DESERVE OUR CARE AND PROTECTION. ALWAYS!!
PLEASE TRY TO VIDEO OR PHOTO TAKE ANY ANIMAL ABUSE THEN REPORT ACCORDINGLY.
WE MUST OPEN A MOUTH!
David, you do realize YouTube is used to videotape animal abuse daily and even with all the evidence nothing is done. Until laws change to actually convict these people and social media like YouTube are fined for videos like these nothing will change. Not even with all the petitions we sign because there is no consequence.
ALL ANIMALS DESERVE OUR CARE AND PROTECTION. ALWAYS!!
PLEASE TRY TO VIDEO OR PHOTO TAKE ANY ANIMAL ABUSE THEN REPORT ACCORDINGLY.
WE MUST OPEN A MOUTH!
Animal abuse demonstrates a lack of respect for all sentient beings, starting with the easiest ones and leading to humans. All child animal abusers must be immediately reprogrammed or they will eventually be dangerous psychopaths in society.
NO ONE GETS AWAY WITH THIS
NO ONE!
This is how God separates the good and evil
Enjoy purgatory and hell molestors, serial killers etc
Not a place you want to be
Even the bible says ur not supposed to mistreat animals
Better to be kind to all, it feels so much better
Animal cruelty is an unacceptable activity, so how do accept inhumane constraint and slaughter of mostly baby animals for us to eat?
As enlightening as these articles are on animal /human abuse the fact remains, you offer no resolution to the problem. What are some steps people can take if they suspect abuse of animals by a child or abuse of a child or adult? Fear, I’m sure keeps people quiet. However, if your going to discuss these things you also need to discuss what a person can do.
Shows how slow justice moves in even America… any one with a conscious knows it is related… those who can torture and kill animals have no problem doing the same to humans no matter what age or sex. THEY HAVE NO CONSCIOUS and should not be put in the category of being human!
This is not new news. I have said this in my posts almost every time.
Give the death penalty out more.
When you give an animal abuser a slap on the hand, you send a clear message to others to do the same or worst. And you clearly tell the world that you don’t care that those abusers will breed more monsters. You are the law and yet you protect the villain and you let the innocent fend for themselves.
INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR ANIMAL ABUSE! WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG????? Lock them up, penalties, fees, expensive counseling, court costs will DETER perpetrators! GOD HELP OUR INNOCENT DEFENSELESS ANIMALS.