Comments on: Animal Cruelty As A Behavior Indicator

By: barbara

barbara — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:59:42 +0000

I had a friend and i my son told me about my friends 10 year old sons treament of their many animals like swinging the cats by their legs up into the air or by the tail. The dogs were treated horrible by this 10 year boy,he ran one over with his dirt bike and laughed about the dogs pain, he tried to run over the dog again as the injured dog limped off. He likes to kick and scream at the animals.His parents gave him a B.B. gun for christmas knowing how distrubed this boy is.He has been suspened from school at least twice for fighting.He isnt liked by the other children in his school.I feel he will be a danger to the public in years to come.He needs help!!!!!!!!

By: Sara Puls

Sara Puls — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:49:20 +0000

Todd – You’re welcome and thanks to you for reading and commenting.
I think you hit on exactly what I was thinking as I was writing; I thought “Is this common sense?” Sadly though, it is not.
Unfortunately there are people need to reminded that animals are living creatures who feel pain, sadness, comfort, happiness, just like we do, and reminded to pass that compassion along to their children.
As for the “boys will be boys” mentality, that is acceptable for explaining away dirty clothes and skinned knees, but it is a mindset that is too pervasive in our society when it comes to hurting others. Violence against any person or animal should never be acceptable.

Vicky – You also hit on something that I considered adding to the article but did not. I didn’t want to scare everyone out of their wits, but the connection between animal abuse and killing and serial killers is ASTOUNDING.
FBI records show that nearly 100% of serial killers start with animals. If that’s not scary I don’t know what is. It’s like a “rehearsal” of sorts for them.
There are also an astounding correlation between animal abuse and domestic abuse.
It’s important to teach our kids compassion for ALL living things because we are truly all connected in many ways.
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute here.

By: VickyH

VickyH — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:12:27 +0000

Over the weekend, I watched the Jeffery Dahlmer movie. Normally I don’t watch these serial killer type movies, but this one was different as it was told not as a gruesome Jeffery Dahlmer story with all the details, but from his direct family’s perspective.

As a parent, you constantly look back and try to figure out ‘what you could have done differently’, which is what the movie did. His actions affected so many other people’s lives and not just his grieving victims family’s.

He also hurt small animals, it started with a goldfish and then his dog. This article is so moving for me, because this is very proactive and not reactive.

We can teach our kids these skills.

Thank you so much for such a touching post Sara!

By: Todd Jordan

Todd Jordan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:18:21 +0000

This one honestly shook me up. Talk about peering into the dark side. What scares me is that some of these signs seem like common sense. I wonder how many parents or guardians overlook them as playful.

You always hear that boys are rough and mean by nature, but this article is a reminder how they learn by example, and they can learn to kill or injure just as well as love.

Thanks for sharing this potent piece.