THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502100021
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Hats off to the wonderful staff at the Dog and Cat Hospital for their recent generous support and concern for the beagle and the cocker spaniel that had been abused and shot.
We see human beings show such compassion and generosity frequently. However, we also see examples of the escalating violence in our community being visited on our animal population.
Common sense, supported by research, confirms the connection between cruelty toward animals and abuse and violence toward children, the elderly and other vulnerable populations. A review of most notorious killers presents evidence of cruelty to animals as the first clue to their violent nature. Studies indicate that animal cruelty is stable over time; in other words, perpetrators do not generally outgrow this inclination. In fact, they graduate to other victims, often the two-legged kind.
We need help as we look for strategies to reduce violence to animals. Those who think that expressions of concern about such cruelty are misplaced should recognize that the degree to which we tolerate violence and cruelty toward any living creature puts us all at risk. Let's begin to acknowledge such cruelty as the serious risk it is to all of us.
SHARON Q. ADAMS
Executive director
Virginia Beach SPCA
Virginia Beach, Jan. 31, 1995 by CNB