[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1025-E1026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 286--UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL 
                        ABUSE AND HUMAN VIOLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the strong 
link between violence against animals and violence against people, and 
to call to the attention of my colleagues House Concurrent Resolution 
286 which urges greater attention to identifying and treating 
individuals who are guilty of violence against animals because of the 
link between abuse of animals and violence against humans. The 
resolution also calls for additional research to increase our 
understanding of the connection between cruelty to animals and violence 
against humans.
  After the recent school shootings in Arkansas and Oregon, heavy 
attention has been paid to the early signs of the potential for 
children to commit violent crime. It is no coincidence that the accused 
in these two tragic cases are juveniles with disturbing histories of 
animal cruelty and abuse. Mr. Speaker, it is common sense knowledge 
that any individual who harms animals cruelly and deliberately is not 
otherwise well adjusted.
  Mr. Speaker, the FBI already lists violence against animals as a 
behavioral trait and characteristic of violent offenders. Almost all 
serial killers are known to have abused animals. Indeed, cruelty toward 
animals is often a sign of mental disturbance in both children and 
adults.
  Teachers, principals, parents, and law enforcement officers must all 
be encouraged to recognize this connection and to take incidences of 
animal cruelty seriously. An abused animal is often a sign that a 
spouse, a child, or an elder in the household is or may become the 
victim of aggression and abuse. A pet may be a surrogate target of 
violence. Abuse of a household pet often fuels violent tendencies that 
are a precursor to acts of violence against family members and others.
  Violence against animals co-exists with and precedes violent crimes, 
especially crimes of domestic violence. The Federal Government must not 
overlook this correlation. By studying this link, we can increase 
awareness and understanding of violent crime and the potential violent 
crimes in our homes, in our schools, and in our communities.
  Furthermore, we must reject the notion that violence against animals 
is simply normal societal behavior. If we treat cruelty to animals with 
a dismissive ``boys will be boys,'' we may well be ignoring critical 
initial signs that may lead to violent behavior and we may be passing 
up an opportunity to take action to prevent

[[Page E1026]]

a future tragedy. By allowing children and adults to abuse animals 
without sanction, Mr. Speaker, we are ignoring an important tool in the 
fight against domestic violence and an important tool in helping to 
prevent other tragic acts of violence such as those we have seen in 
Arkansas and Oregon.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation I have introduced today with the 
cosponsorship of thirteen of our colleagues expresses the sense of 
Congress that appropriate Federal agencies thoroughly support and 
incorporate research on the connection between acts of cruelty against 
animals and humans. Furthermore, it recognizes the validity and 
significance of this link.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in encouraging research 
and awareness about this disturbing connection between violence against 
animals and violence against people. I ask that the full text of this 
resolution be placed in the Record.

                            H. Con. Res. 286

       Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the link 
     between violence against animals and violence against humans 
     and urging greater emphasis upon identifying and treating 
     individuals who are guilty of violence against animals, which 
     is a crime in its own right in all 50 states, in order to 
     prevent violence against humans and urging research to 
     increase understanding of the connection between cruelty to 
     animals and violence against humans.
       Whereas as urgent need exists to prevent violence, 
     especially among juvenile offenders and in domestic 
     situations;
       Whereas a strong correlation between animal abuse and 
     violence against humans has been documented by criminal 
     profiling experts associated with the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, who have identified cruelty to animals as one 
     of the three traits often found in the ``homicidal traid'' 
     which indicates the characteristics of a violent personality;
       Whereas a disproportionately high number of violent killers 
     in the prison system admit to having abused animals, and 
     virtually every serial killer and many violent killers have a 
     history of abusing animals;
       Whereas many of the recent cases of school violence have 
     involved students with a history of abusing animals;
       Whereas individuals who deliberately abuse animals are more 
     likely to abuse their spouse and their children or otherwise 
     be involved in violent crimes;
       Whereas some experts believe that abusing animals may 
     increase or fuel the desire to commit violence against humans 
     in certain disturbed individuals;
       Whereas animal cruelty is violence and should be recognized 
     as such when assessing an individual's propensity to commit 
     future acts of violent crime;
       Whereas intentional animal abuse is an early warning signal 
     that individuals, including young people, could perpetrate 
     violent crimes against other individuals; and
       Whereas laws against cruelty to animals have been enacted 
     in all 50 states and provide penalties for the purposeful 
     torture and killing of animals, and the enforcement of these 
     animal abuse laws provide law enforcement officials with an 
     opportunity to bring potentially violent offenders into the 
     criminal justice system before they commit more serious 
     crimes against humans;
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes that individuals who abuse animals are more 
     likely to commit more serious violent crimes against humans;
       (2) urges social workers, teachers, mental health 
     professionals, and others to be aware of the connection 
     between animal cruelty and human violence and to evaluate 
     carefully and to monitor closely individuals who have a 
     history of abusing animals because this may indicate a 
     propensity to commit violence against other humans;
       (3) urges appropriate Federal agencies to encourage and 
     support research to increase the understanding of the 
     connection between cruelty to animals and violence against 
     humans in order to utilize instances of animal abuse to 
     identify and intervene with potentially violent individuals, 
     and urges federal agencies which are undertaking research on 
     violent crime and its causes to incorporate examination of 
     the link between violence against animals and violence 
     against humans;
       (4) urges local law enforcement officials to treat cases of 
     animals cruelty seriously both because such cruelty is a 
     crime in its own right in all 50 states and because it is a 
     reliable indicator of the potential for domestic and other 
     forms of violence against humans; and commends the fine work 
     of local animal control officials and humane investigators 
     who enforce laws against animal abuse and urges these 
     professionals to work more closely with local law enforcement 
     personnel to identify and prevent potential violence against 
     humans.

     

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