A 24 year old man was recently charged with animal cruelty in Louisville, KY for torturing and killing cats. You can read the stories here:

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13782079

I have been astounded and pleased that the people in this community have responded to this incident with such fervor. The connection between interpersonal violence and animal abuse is pretty well accepted within the mental health community as a by-product of conduct disorder and socio-pathic tendencies. What can everyday people do to prevent these types of crimes?

First of all, to quote anthropologist Margaret Mead, the worst thing that can happen to a child is to abuse and animal AND GET AWAY WITH IT. If you see a child abusing an animal, intervene immediately! You may have to do so anonymously for your own safety, and you can do that when you call Animal Services or your local sheriff. Do not let any child get away with animal abuse or neglect.

Praise children when you see them interacting with animals in kind, empathetic, and pro-social ways. Teach your pets how to behave around children so that when you walk them, children can approach and pet them. Teach children HOW to approach your pet, and always closely supervise them together. Never leave a child alone with a pet, even your own pet. Most children report to me that they have been bitten by their own family cat or dog.

If there is a child in your neighborhood who is not only torturing or abusing animals but also seems overly interested in fire setting, you may have a potential violent offender in training. Do not only report this child to animal authorities, but also to CPS. Chances are that if the pets are being abused in a home suspected of violence, so are the people who live there. If you live in Louisville, KY you can access these agencies by calling 311. If you don't see results, be persistent. You could save a life.

These are only a sample of the ways animals can inform us of our social environments. This blog will continue to provide resources, history, and observations on the human-companion animal bond.