This is Bernice Barnett.

     The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in records of serial rapists and murderers. Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser but rather a symptom of a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty toward animals don’t stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans.

Serial killers Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz, and Jeffrey Dahmer all had a history of animal abuse.

In Lincoln County, we occasionally receive reports from the police of intentional cruelty or neglect to animals. In extreme cases, we have seen people throw dogs or cats down the stairs or even from moving vehicles.

            In Oregon, animal abuse is a felony if a person unlawfully and maliciously kills or tortures an animal. It’s usually a misdemeanor to unlawfully fail to provide minimum care for an animal and the animal suffers serious physical injury or death. Veterinarians are required to report animal abuse to the police.

Signs of animal abuse include the following: lack of food and water;  lack of veterinary care for illness or injury; severe matting or filth; poor body condition; lack of sanitation; abandonment; ingrown collars around the neck; tied or caged animals without room to move around; burns; trauma; poisoning; mutilation and animal fighting.

If you see signs of animal cruelty, the District Attorney’s Office urges you to contact law enforcement. Cruelty to animals is wrong in itself. It may also be a danger sign of someone behaving cruelly to people.