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March 21, 2013

Letter: Time for a registry of animal abusers

Gloucester Daily Times

To the editor:

I am writing to urge all readers to contact their state representatives and ask them to enact an animal abuse registry.

Communities have good reason to be concerned about the whereabouts of animal abusers.

In story after heartbreaking story, abusers repeat their violent crimes against helpless animals and often go on to victimize people as well. Mandatory registration and community notification for convicted animal abusers will make a dramatic difference in keeping offenders away from potential new victims by allowing animal shelters and humane societies to more thoroughly screen potential adopters and by alerting the public to whereabouts of dangerous abusers.

In 1997, Boston’s Northeastern University and the MSPCA did a study that found 70 percent of all animal abusers have committed at least one other crime and that 40 percent had committed violent crimes against humans.

Studies also found that a history of animal abuse was found in 25 percent of male criminals, 30 percent of convicted child molesters, 36 percent of domestic violence cases and 46 percent of homicide cases. Some 30 percent of convicted child molesters and 48 percent of convicted rapists admitted animal cruelty in their childhood.

Let’s make a difference now. Keep your animals and community safe by supporting efforts that will require animal abusers to register with their communities.

TARA ROSE

Lawrence

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