Research Brief

R E S E A R C H


B R I E F
ANIMAL CRUELTY
March 2008



Animal cruelty does not only affect the animal and
The Humane Society of Utah (n.d.) cites a number
the abuser but also society in general. It increases the
of reasons for cruelty towards animals:
cost of living through higher taxes used to remove

Desire to control or retaliate against an animal
dead animal’s bodies from public places, care for
Desire to retaliate against the animal's owner
animals in animal shelters, euthanization of animals
Fear or prejudice against a species or breed of
that have not been adopted, and other costs
animal
associated with the removal of stray or abused
Desire to express aggression by making an
animals.

animal violent or aggressive
There are many forms of animal cruelty but the most
Desire to enhance a person's own aggressiveness
common are neglect and intentional cruelty.
To shock others for amusement or for a person's
According to the American Society for the
own pleasure
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) (2008),
As displacement of hostility from a person to an
other forms of abuse include hoarding, puppy mills,
animal
factory farming and cockfighting. Types of animal
Not caring or thinking about an animal's feelings
abuse cases investigated in 2003 include:
or needs

To fit in with a person's peer group
Types of Animal Abuse
For financial gain (animal fighting, breeding
Intentional
% of
Neglect
% of
and/or puppy mill and factory farming)
(Acts of
Violent
(Acts of
Neglect

Commission)
Cases
omission)
Cases
The Abusers
Shooting
17 Malnourished
70
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
(2008), in a report of 1,373 documented animal
Animal Fighting
17 Emaciated
30
cruelty cases in 2003 involving at least 1,682
Torturing
11

perpetrators, reports that the vast majority of
Beating
11

intentional cruelty and animal fighting incidents
Mutilation
10

were committed by men. Women had a higher
Throwing
7

percentage of involvement in animal hoarding cases.
Adults represented the highest percentage of
Burning
6

abusers. A summary of these results is as follows:
Poisoning
4



Stabbing
3

All
Intentional
Animal
Animal
Gender
Cases
Cruelty
Fighting Neglect Hoarding
Kicking
3

Males
75% 92% 93% 54% 34%
Dragging
3

Females
25% 8%
7% 46% 66%
Animal Sexual


1
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 2008)
Abuse


Hanging
1

Intentional
Run Over with


Age
Cruelty Male
Female
Vehicle
1
Child (7-12)
1% 100%
0%
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) (2008)
Teen (13-19)
22% 95%
5%

Adult (20
77% 91%
9%
and over)
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) (2008)

---

Animal Cruelty Research Brief

March 2008
Animal Cruelty and Violent Crime

There is a fine line separating an animal abuser from
Gender of
Type of Family
a human being abuser; thus, all reports of a person or
Perpetrator
Violence
persons abusing an animal should be taken seriously,
Male Female
especially since there is no way to know which
Domestic Violence
100% 0%
animal abuser will turn to commit violent crimes
Child Abuse
60% 40%
against humans (Pet-Abuse.com, 2008a).
Elder Abuse
67% 33%

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) (2008)
Not surprisingly, research shows that there is a link

between animal abuse and psychologically- impaired
In cases where there was a co-occurrence of animal
and/or mentally disturbed people. According to Pet-
cruelty and family violence as a whole, males had
Abuse.com (2008b), many studies over the past 25
the highest percentage of violations; however, the
years in criminology, psychology, and sociology
gender gap is much smaller with the co-occurrence
have shown that aggressive offenders, including
of animal cruelty and child abuse.
serial killers, usually committed or have a history of

In response to the growing concern of this type of
committing animal abuse during their childhood and
co-occurrence of domestic violence and animal
adolescent years. In fact, the American Psychiatric
cruelty, several shelters have developed programs to
Association considers animal cruelty as one of the
assist in these situations. One such program is the
diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder (Pet-
Safe Havens for Animals ™ Program, which allows
Abuse.com, 2008b). Of the 1,373 animal cruelty
victims of domestic violence to leave their animals
cases reported by HSUS in its 2003 report (HSUS,
in foster care while they are receiving or seeking
2008) 6% included information on prior criminal
medical care, counseling and help. Within the four
records for the animal cruelty perpetrator. Prior
counties (Kendall, Comal, Bexar and Bandera),
offenses included:
Comal County is the only county that has a center,

Animal cruelty and neglect
Crisis Center of Comal County (CCCC), that
Illegal drug possession
participates in the Safe Havens for Animals ™
Firearms violations
Program (HSUS, 2007b).
Domestic violence

Treatment
Burglary
According to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author of “How
Assault
to Care for an Abused Pet” (n.d.), animals that have
Kidnapping
been abused within the first few weeks of life are
Rape
rarely suitable as pets. For instance, cats that have
Incest
not been exposed to people within seven weeks will
(HSUS, 2008)
not be fully accepting of people; if the cat is abused

In many cases, animal cruelty is considered the first
during the same time frame then the cat is more
step towards committing child and/ or spousal abuse.
likely to be hostile towards humans for the rest of
There are almost as many instances of perpetrators
it’s life. The same is true for dogs; however, the time
abusing animals without cause as there are
frame is between 12-14 weeks for need of human
perpetrators who abuse animals as a way to gain
interaction.
cooperation from the pet’s owner (usually a woman

Treating or rehabilitating an abused animal requires
or a child) to commit unsavory acts or to prevent the
time and patience. Like an abused human being, an
victims from seeking help. In an article titled, “The
abused animal will be wary, untrusting, in some
Whole Picture” research suggested that of battered
cases, even aggressive in its attempt to protect itself.
women, 57 percent of those with pets said their
While most animals can be rehabilitated, there are
partners had harmed or killed the animals and one in
some that cannot, either because of the age when
four said that she stayed with the batterer because
they were first abused or because the abuse
she feared leaving the pet behind (Pet-Abuse.com,
happened over such an extended period of time that
2008c).
the animals are not able to recover. It often takes up

In its 2003 Report of Animal Cruelty Cases, HSUS
to a year to rehabilitate an abused pet.
(2008) cited that approximately 15% of the

Contributing Factors
intentional animal cruelty cases reported also
Overpopulation is a major contributing factor of
involved some form of family violence as follows:
animal cruelty. For every person born in the United
2

---

March 2008

Animal Cruelty Research Brief
States in one day, seven puppies or kittens are born.
to gather data and maintain statistics for their area of
The following presents a picture of the problem:
interest, there are no “industry standard” definitions
Cats can start breeding as early as six months
for terms such as adoptable, unadoptable, treatable,
old
and others (NCPPSP, 2005, p7).
Two breeding cats with all of their offspring in

The Asilomar Accords is a set of guiding principles,
six years will generate 420,000 cats
standard definitions, and statistical formulae adopted
Two breeding dogs with all their offspring in
by a group of animal welfare industry leaders in
seven years will produce 67,000 dogs
2004 to “enable uniform and accurate collection,
70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in
analysis and reporting of animal-sheltering data and
the United States
statistics” (Asilomar Accords, 2004, p.5). Voluntary
Comparatively, 10,000 humans are born every
adoption of these proposed national industry
day in the United States

standards will allow communities to more accurately
Spaying and neutering (surgical sterilization) helps
judge their own accomplishments as well as provide
control the animal population and is beneficial to
objective comparisons between communities. Many
both pets and owners. The risk of numerous animal
communities around the nation are now using the
health problems is reduced, the tendency toward
Asilomar Accords definitions and tables to track
aggressive behavior, including biting and scratching,
their animal welfare efforts (Maddie’s Fund, n.d.).
is reduced, and pets are less likely to roam the

Community Resources
neighborhood, run away, or get into fights. Neutered
The following issues are common to all four
pets also tend to live longer (HSUS, 2007c).

Kronkosky Charitable Foundation counties:
Animal Care Facilities/Shelters
No central point of contact for reporting all
Approximately 6 to 8 million dogs and cats are sent
animal cruelty and other statistics
to animal shelters each year. While 3 to 4 million are
Fragmented and incomplete information
adopted annually, another 3 to 4 million are
Proliferating feral cat populations pose a health
euthanized (HSUS, 2007).
risk

According to the National Council on Pet Population
Overpopulation and limited resources resulting in
Study & Policy (NCPPSP) (2005, p7), the term
animal euthanasia
“shelter” is a generic term used to describe a number
Rabies are a problem in Bandera and Kendall
of different types of housing for homeless
Counties
companion animals. There also appears to be
Instances of dog bites are underreported
disparity in the concept of a “kill” or “no kill”
Stray dogs pose both an animal bite and health
shelter. The HSUS (2007a) points out that those
risk
shelters commonly referred to as “no kill” are

limited-admission facilities. They are selective about
The San Antonio community has made considerable
the animals they take in either by breed, number, or
efforts over the past two years to improve animal
condition. While they can play a role in helping
welfare. In August 2006, the City of San Antonio
homeless companion animals find responsible
adopted a new Animal Care Strategic Plan that calls
homes, there still exists a need for shelters whose
for the community to achieve a “no kill” goal by
doors are open to all homeless animals in every
2012. The plan outlines five strategic priorities to
community. Municipal Animal Care and Control
achieve that goal:
facilities generally fill this need in addition to being
1. Increase community awareness and owner
responsible for enforcement of state and local animal
responsibility
health and safety codes and, in most cases,
2. Reduce the number of strays/homeless animals
investigating reports of animal cruelty and abuse.

3. Promote best practices among all animal care
The NCPPSP explains that “estimates on the number
& protection organizations Implement
of dogs and cats who enter shelters (and how they
effective public policy and ordinances
are disposed of) in the United States vary greatly,
4. Secure needed human and financial resources
and data collection and analysis are limited…There
5. Foster the development of a consortium of
are no national data reporting requirements for
partners
animal care and control organizations or a

centralized data collection source” (2005, p6).
For “the purposes of this plan, the Advisory Board
Additionally, while many shelters may make efforts
has established the preliminary definition of “no

3

---

Animal Cruelty Research Brief

March 2008
kill” to mean that all healthy and/or treatable animals
surgeries will soon be offered to the public
find a home and that the only animals
(Sanborn, 2008).
euthanized are so sick or behaviorally impaired as to

A challenge within each county is to improve
not be adoptable” (Animal Care Services Advisory
coordination between government animal control
Board, 2006, p.2).

offices, animal shelters, animal rescue groups, health
As a major step towards accomplishing this goal,
care officials, and the public. This will allow for
San Antonio leaders approved changes to the animal
more accurate reporting, identification of issues, and
care ordinance in December 2007 including:
the opportunity to develop comprehensive plans to
Use of microchips in lieu of licenses for
gather resources and effectively resolve these issues.
identification

One such effort, lead by the Humane Society of
Permits required for unaltered pets
Bexar County (HSBC), gathered data for all animal
Permits required for litters of puppies or kittens
control and animal shelter efforts in Bexar County
Trap-Neuter-Return policy for feral cat colonies
for the years 2004 and 2006 using the Asilomar
Stiffer penalties for animal cruelty convictions
Accords definitions and tables (HSBC, 2007). Two
Limits on number of pets per household with
generally accepted indicators of community animal
permits available for excess animals
services are the Annual Live Release Rate and
New Vicious Dog category
Animal Deaths per 1,000 Human Population (HP).
Increased minimum number of days an
Bexar County indicators are:
impounded animal shall be held prior to

adoption or euthanasia
Indicator 2004
2006
(City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS), 2007)
Annual Live Release Rate
24%
31%

Animal Deaths/1,000 HP
34
23
As stated earlier, increasing awareness and making
(HSBC, 2007).
spaying and neutering services available are

essential for reducing the number of homeless and
While there is no accepted national average for live
unwanted puppies and kittens born each year. Two
release rates, selected communities have posted rates
low-cost spay/neuter facilities in San Antonio are
anywhere between a low of 24% (Tuscaloosa
The Animal Resource Center (ARC) and the
County, Alabama) and a high of 91% (Tompkins
Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).
County, NY). The national average of animal

deaths/1,000 HP is 15 (Maddie’s Fund, n.d.). These
ARC was formed in 1997 by a coalition comprised
data indicate that Bexar County, while having
of the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services,
significant room for improvement, has also made
the Animal Defense League, the Humane Society of
significant progress. Additionally, of 514 reports of
Bexar County, and the Veterinary Medical
rabies investigated in the Kronkosky charitable area
Association of Bexar County. In 2007, ARC
in 2006, 15 cases tested positive but none were cats
reported performing 10,666 spay and neuter
or dogs. One (1) cat tested positive for rabies in
surgeries of which 4,945 were free of charge for San
2005 (Texas Department of State Health Services,
Antonio residents. The total surgeries represented a
2007).
31% increase over the previous year.


There are approximately 20 animal shelters
SNAP, open to both income-qualified families and
in Bexar, Bandera, Kendall, and Comal Counties
the general public, provides a mobile clinic for the
(not including breed specific rescue organizations).
San Antonio area as well as the outlying counties.
No-Kill, limited intake shelters include (this is not a
Services include spaying or neutering surgeries,
comprehensive listing):
rabies vaccination, reduced cost vaccination, flea

prevention, heartworm testing, and heartworm
Animal Defense League
prevention. In 2006, SNAP sterilized 5,283 animals
Animal Friends Forever
in Bexar County and provided wellness services to
Animal Welfare Society of Bandera
470 animals. Spay/neuter services were also
Canyon Lake Animal Shelter Society
provided to Bandera (59 animals), Comal (108
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
animals), and Kendall (19 animals) counties.
Wags to Whiskers


The San Antonio Animal Care Services moved to a
Many private shelters also offer various programs
new, larger, and better equipped facility in January
and services to the public. For example, the Animal
2008. It is expected that no-cost spay and neuter
Defense League provides the following services:

4

---

March 2008

Animal Cruelty Research Brief
Adopts homeless dogs and cats
http://www.sanantonio.gov/animalcare/PDF/ACS_Str
Full-time staff veterinarian
ategicPlan.pdf

Low cost spay/neuter program for pets of low-
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
income families
Animals ® (ASPCA). (2008). Cruelty Glossary.
Only area ambulance for picking up injured
Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cru
animals
elty_crueltyglossary
Humane education programs in schools and the

community
Asilomaraccords.org. (2004). Asilomar Accords.
Retrieved January 9, 2008, from
Pet-a-Pup pet therapy program for nursing homes
http://www.asilomaraccords.org/2004-accords5.pdf
Low-cost boarding


City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. (2007)
Other area shelters are considered “Low-Kill” in that
Chapter Five Information. Retrieved on January 8,
“if the animal becomes stressed, aggressive, or sick
2008, from
at the shelter, or if space becomes a problem,
http://www.sanantonio.gov/animalcare/Chapter5.asp
euthanasia may be considered” (HSUS, 2007a).


Dodman, Nicholas. (n.d.) How to Care for an Abused
The Humane Society of Bexar County falls into the
Pet. Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from
low-kill category and offers additional services
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-care-for-an-
including:
abused-pet/page1.aspx


Finding temporary shelter and homes for
Humane Society of Bexar County. (2007). Evaluation
abandoned or unwanted animals
Summary, Grant dated September 27, 2005.
Preventing cruelty to animals
Retrieved January 9, 2008, from www.kronkosky.org

Promoting the spaying and neutering of dogs and
Humane Society of the United States (2006). Pet
cats
Overpopulation and Ownership Statistics. Retrieved
Educating the community on responsible animal
on January 7, 2008 from
care
http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/p

et_overpopulation_and_ownership_statistics/hsus_pe
SNIPSA, Inc. (Spay-Neuter-Inject-Protect) is a
t_overpopulation_estimates.html
rescue organization whose purpose is to rescue

animals from “kill” shelters (predominantly from
Humane Society of the United States. (2007a) Common
ACS), provide any rehabilitation and/or medical
Questions about Animal Shelters and Animal
treatment necessary, and find adoptive homes.
Control. Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from
Animals are placed in volunteer foster homes until
http://www.hsus.org/pets/animal_shelters/common_q
uestions_about_animal_shelters_and_animal_control.
permanent placement is found (SNIPSA, n.d.).
html


With continued humane education programs,
Humane Society of the United States. (2007b) On-Line
volunteer efforts, and other forms of community
Directory for Safe Havens for AnimalsTM Programs.
support, it is highly likely that:
Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from

http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/first_strike_the_conn
Fewer animals will be put to death each year
ection_between_animal_cruelty_and_human_violenc
Fewer animals will have an untimely death due to
e/safe_havens_for_animals_/online_directory_of_saf
an accident or health issue
e_havens_for_animals_programs.html

Fewer people will be injured by animals
Humane Society of the United States (2007c). Why You
More animals will find homes through adoption
Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet. Retrieved on
Costs in running animal control shelters will drop
January 7, 2008, from
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/why_you_should_
A greater number of lost pets will be reunited
spay_or_neuter_your_pet.html
with owners

Many pets and animals will experience a better
Humane Society of the United States (2008). 2003
quality of life
Report of Animal Cruelty Cases. Retrieved on

January 7, 2008, from http://files.hsus.org/web-
References
files/PDF/2003AnimalCrueltyRprt.pdf


Animal Care Services Advisory Board. (2006). City of
Humane Society of Utah. (n.d.). Animal Cruelty in Utah
San Antonio Animal Care Strategic Plan. Retrieved
– 1997 Through 2006. Retrieved on January 7, 2008,
January 8, 2008, from
from

5

---

Animal Cruelty Research Brief

March 2008
http://www.utahhumane.org/Investigation/CrueltySta

Pet-Abuse.com (2008c). The Whole Picture. Retrieved
tistics/tabid/517/Default.aspx

on January 7, 2008, from http://www.pet-
Maddie’s Fund. (n.d.) For Animal Organizations:
abuse.com/pages/abuse_connection/whole_picture.ph
Community Statistics. Retrieved January 9, 2008,
p
from

Sandborn, J.K. (2008, January 6). New shelter set to
http://www.maddiesfund.org/organizations/communit
open for business. San Antonio Express-News.
y_stats.html

Retrieved January 7, 2008, from
National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/pets/stories/MY
(2005). Shelter Population Index Study Request for
SA010708.01B.ACS_Move.27b6f45.html
Proposal. Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from

SNIPSA,Inc. (n.d.). Who We Are. Retrieved January 9,
http://www.petpopulation.org/NCPPSPSPIRFPFINA
2008, from http://www.snipsa.org/SNI/About
L060105.pdf


Texas Department of State Health Services. (2007).
Pet-Abuse.com. (2008a). Reporting Animal Cruelty.
Zoonosis Control. Retrieved January 9, 2008, from
Retrieved on January 7, 2008, from http://www.pet-
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/rabies/cases/
abuse.com/pages/animal_cruelty/reporting_abuse.php

statistics/reports/2006.pdf
Pet-Abuse.com. (2008b). Cruelty Connections. Retrieved

on January 7, 2008, from http://www.pet-

abuse.com/pages/abuse_connection.php

6

---

Document Outline

• ??

---