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
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