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"Physical Cruelty Toward Animals in
Massachusetts, 1975-1996"
Authors of original article: Arnold Arluke
and Carter Luke
Originally published in Society & Animals
Volume 5, Number 3, 1997*
Analysis of data on cruelty-to-animals cases prosecuted by
the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)
between 1975 and 1996 revealed that dogs were the most common
victims of prosecuted acts of cruelty, dogs and cats together
constituting the vast majority. Human beings owned almost all of
the animals involved. The majority of complainants were females,
and almost all suspects were young males. Only 0.3 percent of
cases investigated by the MSPCA-268 out of about 80,000-were
prosecuted.
In most incidents, young males allegedly shot, beat, stabbed, or
threw their victims. Reportedly, adults more often abused dogs,
shot them, and did so alone; minors more often abused cats, beat
them, and did so in the presence of peers. Fewer than half of
the alleged perpetrators were found guilty in court. One-third
were fined, fewer than one-quarter were required to pay
restitution, one-fifth were put on probation, one-tenth were
sent to jail, and a smaller proportion were required to receive
counseling or perform community service.
The general public is rarely aware of such information, because
criminologists and law enforcement officials usually do not
treat cruelty to animals as a serious or widespread crime. The
FBI annual crime report does not mention it, nor do most other
statistics on criminal behavior. Courts have usually responded
lackadaisically to animal cruelty cases, too. This overall lack
of responsiveness is attributable to society's customarily
valuing animals less than human beings; animal cruelty's being
perceived as less prevalent and less serious than homicide and
other crimes against humans; the press's failing to report on a
large majority of cruelty-to-animals cases; and animal cruelty
cases' being viewed as isolated and not related to interpersonal
violence and other human actions.
That view of cruelty-to-animals violations, however, is
changing. About half of the states now have felony animal
cruelty statutes, and about half of that number have provisions
for psychological counseling of convicted animal abusers.
Collection of data on cruelty cases could help increase law
enforcement officials' interest; help improve public knowledge
of cruelty to animals and expand understanding to include
wildlife abuse and bestiality; inform people regarding
destructive aspects of human-animal relationships generally; and
pave the way for greater respect for animals and official
recognition of their rights.
*Available from Psychologists for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals, P.O. Box 1297, Washington Grove,
MD 20880-1297; 301-963-4751.
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of Applied Animal Welfare Science or Society & Animals,
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