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Preventing Violence
Preventing Violence
"The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, and a past history of violence is the single most important predictor of future violence... Some offenders kill animals as a rehearsal for targeting human victims and many kill or toture animals, because, to them, the animals symbolically represent people."
-Special Agent Alan C. Brantley,
FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
The Connection Between Violence Toward Animals and Violence Toward People
Violent criminals often have histories that include childhood cruelty to animals. In every school shooting in recent years, it was learned that the perpetrators had abused, tortured, and killed animals before moving on to human victims. In fact, the FBI uses reports of animal cruelty in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known violent criminals.
Teachers, parents, and students are being asked and trained to look out for the warning signs. Humane education is the way to reach these children before they ever harm an animal. Children who learn to consider the lives of others, who learn empathy, grow up to be peaceful members of the community.
Of course not everyone who abuses an animal as a child will grow up to be a serial killer. But with every instance of kicking a dog or beating a cat and getting away with it, children become more likely to grow up to kick their children or beat their spouses.
For more information about the link between violence toward animals and violence toward people, visit HelpingAnimals.com.
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