animals to torture. Just days after allegedly beating, shooting and drowning an adopted
German shepherd named Jake, South Carolina resident Alexander Gregor adopted another
German shepherd–mix puppy from an animal rescue group and allegedly threw the puppy
against the floor until the animal died. Shon Rahrig, who allegedly tortured several animals
whom he had adopted from animal shelters in Ohio, was reportedly seen at an adoption event
in California even though he had been banned from owning animals for five years.
Experts agree that it is the severity of the abuse—not the species of the victim—that matters.
Animal abusers are every bit as dangerous as sex offenders, and the public deserves to know
where these sick individuals live so that they can protect their animal companions—and
themselves.
Martin Mersereau is the director of PETA's Emergency Response Team, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.HelpingAnimals.com.
Copyright © PETA & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
German shepherd named Jake, South Carolina resident Alexander Gregor adopted another
German shepherd–mix puppy from an animal rescue group and allegedly threw the puppy
against the floor until the animal died. Shon Rahrig, who allegedly tortured several animals
whom he had adopted from animal shelters in Ohio, was reportedly seen at an adoption event
in California even though he had been banned from owning animals for five years.
Experts agree that it is the severity of the abuse—not the species of the victim—that matters.
Animal abusers are every bit as dangerous as sex offenders, and the public deserves to know
where these sick individuals live so that they can protect their animal companions—and
themselves.
Martin Mersereau is the director of PETA's Emergency Response Team, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.HelpingAnimals.com.
Copyright © PETA & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
| . |
www.ambiente.us APRIL | ABRIL 2010
PETA | Protecting animals protects everyone
By Martin Mersereau
California lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would establish an online registry
for convicted animal abusers—one that's similar to existing registries for sex offenders
and arsonists. As someone who deals with dozens of cruelty-to-animals cases every
week, I urge California legislators to approve this bill, and I encourage other states to
consider establishing similar registries. Exposing animal abusers doesn't only protect
animals—it also makes the entire community safer.
Animal abusers are cowards who take their issues out on "easy victims"—and their
disregard for life and indifference to suffering often carry over to their fellow humans. A
study by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who
abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.
Examples of this phenomenon—known to animal protection and law enforcement
personnel as "the link"—abound.
A history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in FBI records of serial rapists and
murderers. BTK killer Dennis Rader, who was convicted of killing 10 people, admitted
that he was cruel to animals as a child and apparently practiced strangling dogs and
cats before moving on to human victims.
Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer tortured animals and
impaled the heads of cats and dogs on sticks. The Boston
Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, put cats and dogs into orange
crates and killed them by shooting arrows through the slats.
PETA | Protecting animals protects everyone
By Martin Mersereau
California lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would establish an online registry
for convicted animal abusers—one that's similar to existing registries for sex offenders
and arsonists. As someone who deals with dozens of cruelty-to-animals cases every
week, I urge California legislators to approve this bill, and I encourage other states to
consider establishing similar registries. Exposing animal abusers doesn't only protect
animals—it also makes the entire community safer.
Animal abusers are cowards who take their issues out on "easy victims"—and their
disregard for life and indifference to suffering often carry over to their fellow humans. A
study by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who
abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.
Examples of this phenomenon—known to animal protection and law enforcement
personnel as "the link"—abound.
A history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in FBI records of serial rapists and
murderers. BTK killer Dennis Rader, who was convicted of killing 10 people, admitted
that he was cruel to animals as a child and apparently practiced strangling dogs and
cats before moving on to human victims.
Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer tortured animals and
impaled the heads of cats and dogs on sticks. The Boston
Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, put cats and dogs into orange
crates and killed them by shooting arrows through the slats.
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The link is also evident in many homes plagued by domestic violence. Batterers
often try to control their victims, such as a partner or spouse, by threatening, torturing
and/or killing the victim's animals. A study of women living in Wisconsin shelters
because of domestic abuse found that 80 percent of their batterers had been violent
to the women's animals. Listing animal abusers online would allow people to
discover an abusive partner's background before it's too late.
I cannot begin to say how many incidents I've seen involving animal neglectors who
have also neglected their children or other human dependents. Amara Eden of New
Carrollton, Md., pleaded guilty to child endangerment and cruelty to animals after
authorities allegedly discovered a dog chained in her basement with no food or
water and lying in urine and feces—along with Eden's five unattended children on a
mattress that reeked of excrement. The children, including a 6-month-old boy with
cystic fibrosis, were reportedly malnourished, had bloodshot eyes and were
coughing up mucus.
Lisa Glass of Henderson, Ky., pleaded guilty to a felony charge of abuse/neglect of
an adult by a caretaker for allegedly failing to feed her 81-year-old stepfather and
allowing him to live in an unsanitary residence. She also pleaded guilty to cruelty to
animals for reportedly failing to feed a dog. A registry would help social service
agencies and concerned neighbors ensure that any animals, children, handicapped
people or elderly dependents who remain in animal abusers' homes are receiving
proper care.
A public record of animal abusers would also give animal shelters a lifesaving tool
for screening potential adopters, since abusers often seek out more
often try to control their victims, such as a partner or spouse, by threatening, torturing
and/or killing the victim's animals. A study of women living in Wisconsin shelters
because of domestic abuse found that 80 percent of their batterers had been violent
to the women's animals. Listing animal abusers online would allow people to
discover an abusive partner's background before it's too late.
I cannot begin to say how many incidents I've seen involving animal neglectors who
have also neglected their children or other human dependents. Amara Eden of New
Carrollton, Md., pleaded guilty to child endangerment and cruelty to animals after
authorities allegedly discovered a dog chained in her basement with no food or
water and lying in urine and feces—along with Eden's five unattended children on a
mattress that reeked of excrement. The children, including a 6-month-old boy with
cystic fibrosis, were reportedly malnourished, had bloodshot eyes and were
coughing up mucus.
Lisa Glass of Henderson, Ky., pleaded guilty to a felony charge of abuse/neglect of
an adult by a caretaker for allegedly failing to feed her 81-year-old stepfather and
allowing him to live in an unsanitary residence. She also pleaded guilty to cruelty to
animals for reportedly failing to feed a dog. A registry would help social service
agencies and concerned neighbors ensure that any animals, children, handicapped
people or elderly dependents who remain in animal abusers' homes are receiving
proper care.
A public record of animal abusers would also give animal shelters a lifesaving tool
for screening potential adopters, since abusers often seek out more