THE ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE QUARTERLY FALL/WINTER 1998-99 VOLUME 47&48 NUMBER 4&1

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In a strongly worded statement, The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) announced its stance against the cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking of dogs, stating that these procedures "are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress." Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, and breeds of dogs that their tails and part of their ears cut off in order to comply with their breed's "standard."

AAHA plans to submit its resolution to the American Veterinary Medical Association asking them to adopt this position as their own. Many counties, including Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England now prohibit the cropping and docking of dogs' ears and tails.

America was understandably shocked and saddened by this year's reports of sudden, tragic violence, especially in schools. Beneath the stories of the inexplicable killings is a lesser-known but still terrible story: the undeniable link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans. Again and again, when the public tries to understand the psychology behind an act of horrific violence, a record of animal abuse shows up in a Suspect's past, leading psychologists and others to recognize a direct correlation.

For too long, when a child tortures an animal, it's glossed over as unpleasant but typical sport, "boys will be boys," people say, and sweep it under the carpet. When, over and over again, those individuals continue on the violent path to assault, rape and murder, however, newspaper interviews of those who knew the suspect all too often recall his record of torturing animals. More needs to be done to stop violence before it happens, and recognize early-warning signs. At last, this is getting some of the recognition it deserves.

Take the case of 15-year-old Kip Kinkel, who according to authorities, burst into his high school cafeteria and began gunning down his schoolmates, killing one and injuring 23 others. The bodies of his parents were found 90 minutes later.

According to the New York Times, fellow students recalled that Kinkel "boasted to friends that he had killed his cat and blown up a cow." "He was always talking about what he did to animals," said one classmate. "He would like to torture animals and stuff." Another said, "He talked about killing things way too much. And he'd always go into way too much detail, like how he'd cut animals open with hunting knives."

Still, the Springfield, Oregon schools superintendent, Jason Kent, said of Kinkel that "his teachers still viewed him is a good student. He was a typical 15-year-old." This 11 typical 15-year-old" put lit firecrackers into the mouths of squirrels and chipmunks.

Nor is Kinkel's case unusual. In Jonesboro, Arkansas, a month before, two boys-aged 11 and 13-allegedly opened fire on their schoolmates and teachers, killing five and wounding 10. Predictably, newspaper accounts of the boys I troubled pasts included a history of killing animals.

According to prosecutors, 17-year-old Luke Woodham had ritually slaughtered his dog just weeks before he killed 3 students and wounded 7 others in Pearl, Mississippi last year. "On Saturday of last week, I made my first kill. The victim was a loved one, my dear dog Sparkle, 11 wrote Woodham in a grisly "manifesto" describing his preparations for the further killings.

Nor is the connection only relevant to youthful criminals. In July, Russell Weston, Jr. was charged with gunning down two policemen inside the United States Capitol. The previous day, according to Weston's father, he had killed a dozen family cats, including his Grandmother's Littlebit, with a shotgun.

"Jeffrey Dahmer, who admitted killing and dismembering 17 young men and was convicted in 1992, reportedly impaled frogs and staked cats to trees during his childhood," writes AP science writer Joseph Verrengia.

"Killing animals certainly is a good indicator that someone might escalate their violent behavior against other human beings," said Harold Bursztajn, director of the psychiatry and law program Harvard Medical School. "It is a very steep, slippery slope." Forensic psychiatrist William H. Reid agrees: "It's a very ominous sign."

A study by the Massachusetts SPCA revealed that 70 percent of animal abusers had committed at least one criminal offense and that 38 percent had committed violent acts against people.

Fortunately, some things are being done to take these warning signs more seriously. The Humane Society of the United States has an established campaign to educate counselors, parents and the general public about the link between human and animal cruelty and abuse, and last year the society sponsored a conference, "Making the Connection."

Studies have shown that in many instances of child abuse, animals are being abused as well-frequently by the children; social worker Mary Ingram explains this by saying that the abuse moves down the family "totem pole": from parents to children to pets and other animals.

Trish Keefer, a humane officer with the Sacramento SPCA, said that "Harming an animal is a direct link to problems in other areas – with spouses, children, elders." She noted that many humane officers' investigations lead to "cross-referrals" to social workers or police, to determine whether the animal cruelty is in fact connected to human neglect or abuse as well.

Further, law enforcement and the courts are beginning to recognize the seriousness of animal abuse both in and of itself, and as a warning sign for escalating violence.

In Brownsville, Texas, in August, Judge Migdalia Lopez gave stiff sentences, as well as strong words, to three Young men who were charged with stoning a dog to death. The accused had reportedly lured a stray dog to a canal bank, surrounded the dog and threw rocks as a crowd cheered them on. District Attorney Geoff Henley said, "This is not child's play and these are not children."

Lopez had been extremely moved by a nationwide wave of outrage at the crime. Speaking of animal advocates in the audience and around the country, she told the defendants that "they believe you pose a threat to your fellow human beings. All life is sacred, human or not. They remind this court of the link between human cruelty and animal cruelty. This is one of the best predictors of future human violence. The people have loudly expressed their outrage through letters, faxes, cards and petitions. They don't want you to get off with a slap on the wrist. They believe this court must send a strong message that this behavior should not be tolerated." To animal advocates, Lopez said, "The court wants you to understand that I have heard your voice."

Woodstream Corporation, the nation's largest maker of steel-jaw leghold traps, announced that they will no longer produce the cruel traps due to lack of business. Harry E. Whaley, the company's president acknowledged that more stringent trapping laws and the depressed economies of the American fur buying regions of Russia and Asia have permanently disabled the steel-jaw leghold trap business.