Cruelty to Animals linked to Child Abuse
There have been several studies over the years linking cruelty to animals to abuse seen or experienced as a child.
4 month old puppy beaten to death
In mid-November, 19 year old Salt Lake City teen Mikah Johnson was charged with cruelty to animals and torture of a companion animal after he beat a 4 month old puppy to death. The Border Collie named “Moose” had internal bleeding, broken teeth, a torn liver, and several other injuries evident of being beaten.
Deeper issues than lack of anger management
How a 19 year old could harm an innocent animal is not entirely unknown. Studies done over the last 40 years are showing connections between children who have witnessed or been victims of abuse and cruelty to animals. Unfortunately, unless they receive the mental health services they need, the deep seated issues that could evolve from abuse don’t stop with cruelty to animals. According to Robert K. Ressler of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, “[those who commit murder as adults] very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids.”
Commonality of serial killers
Other studies done over the years are linking children guilty of cruelty to animals as having higher chances of being violent offenders as adults. Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Boston Strangler, and numerous other serial killers had one disturbing childhood hobby in common: torturing and cruelty to animals. While their style of mass murder was very different from one another, they all started out as the disturbed kid who found it entertaining to kill the neighbor’s cat.
Juvenile Mental Health
When children and teenagers begin showing cruelty to animals it is important for their mental health to be evaluated and for them to receive the necessary counseling needed. This small step as a child can dramatically reduce the likelihood of violence as an adult. If they have made the grievous error of seriously harming or killing an animal, criminal charges and mandatory counseling are likely to ensue. To speak with someone about criminal charges related to cruelty to animals, contact a juvenile defense attorney.
