We hear it a lot.
"Why don't these 'animal nuts' worry about other people instead of making a big fuss over some abused cat or dog? It's just an animal."
Fortunately, for most people in need there are safety nets woven together with social services, legal protections, and community organizations.
Even the best safety nets, however, have holes that let good people slip through. There must have been some gaping holes that allowed little Jeremiah Jones to fall into the abusive hands of Edward Lewis.
There are no words to describe the horrors this helpless baby endured, but there is a question: How did Lewis become the mindless torturer of a trusting, beautiful child?
"Edward Lewis says he hit 2-year-old with club he used on his dog, records show"
We now learn that Lewis fashioned a weapon to beat his dog. Then he turned it on Jeremiah. Once again the link between animal abuse and violence against people rears its persistent and ugly head.
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| Jeremiah Jones |
The ASPCA reports:
* At least half of all schoolyard shooters have histories of animal cruelty.
* 68% of all battered women reported violence to their animals.
* 88% of families investigated for child abuse reported animal abuse.
Do all animal abusers eventually become violent to people? No, but a statistically frightening number of them do. Youthful and adult abusers need intensive therapy to reframe their relationships to people and animals before it's too late.
When we report or intervene in animal abuse, more than the animal's life may be saved.
Marcia Tupper, Manlius
(Syracuse.com - Feb 11, 2015)
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