Human Abuse—Cruelty to Animals

Violent acts toward animals have long been recognized as indicators of a dangerous psychopathy that does not confine itself to animals. “Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives,” wrote humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer. “Murderers … very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids,” according to Robert K. Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Studies have now convinced sociologists, lawmakers, and the courts that acts of cruelty toward animals deserve our attention. They can be the first sign of a violent pathology that includes human victims.

Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser but rather a symptom of a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty toward animals don’t stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans.

The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers, and the standard diagnostic and treatment manual for psychiatric and emotional disorders lists cruelty to animals as a diagnostic criterion for conduct disorders.

A study conducted by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. The majority of inmates scheduled to be executed for murder at California’s San Quentin penitentiary “practiced” their crimes on animals, according to the warden.

Notorious Killers

As a child, serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy—ultimately convicted of two killings but suspected of murdering more than 40 women—witnessed his father’s violence toward animals, and he himself subsequently tortured animals.

Earl Kenneth Shriner, who raped and stabbed a 7-year-old boy, was known in his neighborhood for hanging cats and torturing dogs.

David Berkowitz (a.k.a. “Son of Sam”), who pleaded guilty to 13 murder and attempted murder charges, shot a neighbor’s Labrador retriever.

Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a California school, killing two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused cats and dogs, often setting their tails on fire.

Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of dogs and cats on sticks.

SOURCE: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Wait, the U.N. Panel on Climate Change is controversial for recommending Meat Free Mondays?!? Hi, Media, have we met? We’re PETA. And we want you to go vegan.

Not only does the meat industry produce more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined , it’s also relatively easy to change your eating habits compared to changing your means of transport. So, is it that much of a leap to suggest that the way to decelerate global warming is to cut meat out of our diets? Well, to U.N. Chair (and vegetarian) Dr. Rajendra Pachauri and PETA, it ain’t controversial—it’s common sense. And it’s what we’ve been saying all along.

SOURCE: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

“The ASPCA recently has come into possession of documents revealing that Ringling Bros. keeps elephants virtually immobilized for the majority of their lives. The circus moves across the country by train, and the company’s own records show that elephants are chained in boxcars for an average of more than 26 hours at a time—and sometimes for as long as 60 to 100 hours straight.”

Other Facts from the ASPCA:

* Ringling Bros.’ own internal train records show that the elephants are chained in boxcars for an average of more than 26 hours, and often 6070 hours at a time, when the circus travels from city to city.

* The records also show that in some cases, the elephants have been kept chained on trains for 90100 hours.

* Elephants at Ringling Bros.’ “Center for Elephant Conservation” (CEC) are also kept in chains (details about this cannot yet be made public because of a protective order that has been entered in the case). The CEC is where elephants are bred to produce more elephants for the circus.

* In the wild, elephants travel many miles each day.

* Research shows that chaining and confining animals for days at a time leads to psychological and severe physical problems such as arthritis, crippling foot problems, and behavior that is indicative of high levels of stress.

How horrifying! No animal deserves this type of treatment. The facts above and more details of this case can be found at:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_circuses

And here’s a video for you… if you are so inclined.

Now, if you are compelled to help the circus elephants of the world, HELP!

The first thing you can do is BOYCOTT the circus (well the ones with ANY animals), there are millions of other ways to find entertainment these days, it’s not the 1800′s anymore.

Another thing you can do, let people know WHY the circus is bad. It doesn’t take much to send an email, speak a website address, or just have a conversation about it. You could also write the paper, put up signs, everyone knows how to boycott! You don’t need to argue with your friends, just educate and let them decide for themselves. I’m sure most will side WITH you on this one.

Well, thanks for reading and helping to STOP THE ABUSE!

“Don’t forget to have your pet spayed or neutered!”

Don’t have dead puppies on your conscience, do the right thing.