ANSC 250 1st Edition Lecture 10 Outline of Last Lecture I Rights vs Welfare II Important people to consider III Animal Rights Movement IV Veterinary Organizations Outline of Current Lecture I Cruelty neglect and abuse II Animal cruelty cases III Why should we care about animal cruelty IV Animal abuse and domestic violence V What s being done about animal cruelty Current Lecture I Cruelty Neglect and Abuse A State laws are based on animal cruelty B Animal cruelty is broken into two parts i Neglect ii Abuse C Animal neglect is the failure to provide the basic husbandry standards for an animal s well being In these cases investigators will work to educate owners first ex abandonment hoarding poor conditions in commercial breeding facilities D Animal abuse involves intentional acts that cause unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal These are more serious offenses and require gathering evidence to prove intent ex Fighting bestiality physical harm death domestic abuse situations extreme cases of neglect E Patrick the pit bull suffered from neglect and abuse and severely emancipated by his owner found in a plastic bag thrown down a garbage chute i Another example Hudson and Pearl nailed to railroad tracks rescued and trained to become therapy dogs F The following is a link to the Pet Abuse Database http www petabuse com pages cruelty database php G Pit bulls are the most commonly abused type of dog II Animal Cruelty Cases A Some difficulties with prosecuting animal cruelty cases include These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute i ii iii iv The victim cannot speak There is a need to prove intent Veterinary forensics is needed but is still a growing field new Large seizures require many resources to take on animals held as evidence lengthy court process consider quality of life for animals B What type of organizations can help with large scale animal cruelty seizures cases i ASPCA Mobile Crime Scene Investigation CSI Unit ii University of Florida Veterinary Forensic Sciences specialize in forensics iii Humane societies iv Largest dog fighting bust in US History 1 8 states over 400 dogs 2 Consider all the resources needed ii Large cases take many resources 1 Help from national groups 2 Seize animals care for them and rehome if possible 3 Consider animal care costs and legal costs III Why should we care A Cycle of Violence i Victim Victimizer B The Link Interconnectedness of different forms of violence well documented correlation b w violence to animals and violence to other people C Abuse and violence are all about power and control D Kellert and Felthous 1985 study on motives for cruelty towards animals i Control an animal ii Retaliate against an animal or person iii Satisfy a prejudice against a certain species breed iv Express aggression through an animal v Enhance one s own aggressiveness vi Shock others for amusement vii Displacement of hostility from a person to an animal viii Nonspecific sadism E Massachussetts Study on Animal Abuse 1997 found people who abuse animals are i 5 times more likely to commit violent crimes against people ii 4 times more likely to commit property crimes iii 3 times more likely to have a record for drug possession or disorderly conduct F Serial killers frequently have a history of animal abuse torture 70 of animal abusers have a criminal record 50 of school shooters in the late 90 s had history of animal abuse G One of the worst things that can happen to a child is to abuse an animal and get away with it common elements in the childhood of sadistic psychiatric patients includes animal torture abuse was directed toward animal which had positive associations with humans H Cruelty to animals was listed as diagnostic criteria for which disorder in 1987 i Conduct disorder childhood behavioral disorder in which one often violates social rules and the basic rights of others associated with low levels of empathy and concern for feelings of others lack of guilt self esteem I Violent offenders in maximum security prisons were more likely than nonviolent offenders to have committed childhood of cruelty to animals J Exposing children to animal cruelty may desensitize them to other forms of violence violent acts toward animals could be conduct disorder gang behavior act of revenge peer pressure way for abused children to gain power and control IV Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence A People are cruel to animals in abusive relationships because i Becomes normalized violence ii Perverse satisfaction to instill fear in family iii As punishment for unwanted behavior from people iv Out of jealousy of the relationship between the animal and human victims v As a threat to keep the humans in the home vi Animals caught in the cross fire of violence vii Abusing animals to avoid police intervention viii Used as sexual objects as a form of power and control over the human victims B 40 of battered women do not seek safety out of fear for their pet s safety 80 of family violence includes a pet 20 of murders in the US are domestic violence related C In largest majority 88 of homes where animals are abused child physical abuse is also present D Ignoring animal abuse going on within a home can allow further cruelty and violent acts abuse to animals is a sign that something deeper may be wrong with the abuser but also within the entire home V What s Being Done A How many states in this country have made animal cruelty a felony i All 50 states now have felony animal cruelty provisions B As of 2015 the FBI now tracks animal abuse separately from other crimes This shows this organization is taking animal abuse seriously C With a law for cross reporting in Illinois animal investigators report suspected child abuse and social workers report suspected animal abuse D Pets may be a source of comfort and companionship to human victims women may not leave for fear of their pets safety E There is currently a need for domestic shelters which allow pets majority do not F In some states pets are not being included in orders of protection inclusion of pets in orders of protection only in some states protects animals from abuser safety space for pets while owners are in transition education and rehabilitation programs for children who abuse animals G Where did Puppy Doe s abuser obtain her from Was she able to survive the abuse she endured and be rehomed after her rescue i Dog was obtained