The HSUS Applauds Introduction of Federal Bill Requiring Animal Cruelty Crime Tracking

July 31, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., for introducing The Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008. The bill requires the Department of Justice to collect and include data on all animal cruelty crimes and make that data publicly available for analysis. The bill will be heard in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security today.

"This is much more than an animal protection law," Gallegly said. "Keeping statistics on animal cruelty crimes will help law enforcement analyze trends that could save human lives. It's important to note that Jeffrey Dahmer progressed from cutting up animals to cutting up humans and eating them. Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler, killed 13 women before his capture. He also began by cruelly killing animals. Ted Bundy, David 'Son of Sam' Berkowitz, Ted 'Unabomber' Kaczynski, and Kip Kinkel, who killed his parents and two schoolmates in a bloody rampage, all had a history of torturing animals."

"It's an accepted principle that those who are kind to animals are also kind to people, and those who are cruel to animals are a threat to society and may commit other violent crimes," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States and president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Having the ability to track animal cruelty cases anywhere in the country is a long overdue step that would not only help animals, but would also give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prevent violent offenders from escalating their terrible behavior. Congress should quickly pass this anti-crime bill, for the sake of animals, and for public safety and security in our communities."  

“Criminologist Jack Levin conducted a three-year study that concluded animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violence against humans. Animal abusers also are more likely to damage property and use drugs. The FBI, U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice consider animal cruelty to be one of the early warning signs of potential violence by youths,” Gallegly said. “There is too much at stake to ignore these crimes.”

Research clearly demonstrates that there is a close association between animal abuse and family violence, as well as other crimes. Additionally, animal abuse frequently is one of the first signals of a child — and a family — at risk. For example:

• Pet abuse was identified as one of the four predictors for intimate partner violence in a recent study conducted by a nationally-recognized team of domestic violence researchers;
• Multiple studies found that from 48.8 percent to 71 percent of battered women reported that their pets had been threatened, harmed, and/or killed by their partners;
• Among children, pet abuse is an early indicator of anti-social behavior. All the experts agree that early identification and intervention is the key to helping children at risk;
• Department of Justice longitudinal studies found that pet abuse in childhood is associated with persistence in anti-social behavior;
• Adults who engage in animal cruelty are more likely to participate in other criminal activities, including violence against people, drug and substance abuse, and property offenses;
• During the 1980s, in developing profiles of serial killers, the FBI's Behavioral Crime Unit discovered that repeated acts of animal cruelty were common among most serial killers;
• Animal fighting, often an economic-driven form of animal cruelty, is associated with gambling, selling and possession of drugs, illegal firearms, gang activity and other violent behavior.

In December, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, D-N.J., introduced similar legislation in the Senate, S. 2439, and that bill now has 13 cosponsors.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.