I have reported several times in the past about the link between domestic violence and animal abuse
. Offenders often hold a family hostage because of their love for their pet.
There is also another sad link; that link is between child abuse and animal abuse. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill today that may make this link easier to track.
Signed Friday afternoon in a special ceremony at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the measure amends the Humane Care for Animals Act, as well as the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, by requiring animal welfare investigators, who have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child is being neglected, abused, or in any such danger, to make a written or oral report to the State Department of Children and Family Services.
Likewise, investigators employed by the Department of Children and Family Services must immediately report suspected animal abuse or neglect to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare.
This bill essentially mandates that agencies investigating animal abuse to report suspected child abuse they may uncover, and for agencies investigating child abuse to report suspected animal abuse. T
he legislation also provides for immunity from liability the persons that report the abuse and also provides for the confidentiality of persons reporting the abuse, as long as the reporting was done in good faith that abuse was taking place.
As reported in many of my articles, abuse is abuse. It is unlikely that a person that abuses animals doesn’t have a problem with anger and abuse in general. That is why so many serial killers have a history of animal abuse. That is why I keep saying that we will see the people abusing animals in today’s news, again. It is a pattern. Unfortunately. They may continue to abuse animals or they move “up” to abusing people. It actually has a name- the “circle of abuse”. That is why I don’t particularly have much faith in the rehabilitation of child abusers, animal abusers, or sex offenders. The statistics support the recidivism of these type crimes.
Cross reporting is a legislative trend we may see passed in other states. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in years to come.
Thanks for reading! keepsake16@yahoo.com
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/abuse_connection.php
http://www.childresearch.net/RESOURCE/NEWS/2000/200003.HTM#1











Comments
From someone who is rehabilitated, I'd love to point out your opinion means nothing. Recidivism amongst convicted s*x offenders are the lowest of any crime, and rehabilitation programs lower it even further. I have more faith in a rehabilitated registrant than from a fear mongering card carrying member of PETA. I suppose this means teens placed on registries for consensual relations with peers also tortured fido? And by the very links you provided the numbers are not a firm indicator. Technically, Michael Vick tortured animals by pitting them in mortal combat with each other, but would you go so far as to claim he's a child molester too? *ex offender truth @ www.oncefallen.com
From one that dealt with sex offenders for 17 years, recidivism is 67%. I am not, nor do I ever see me being a member of PETA. I hAVE actually spoken out in my past professional life about consensual sex partners being labeled sex offenders. I don't agree with that. As far as Michael Vick, we will see him again.
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