When Children Abuse Animals?

Question

A single mom who's raising her son in a chaotic, turbulent and hostile environment, is concerned because her 9-year-old son has killed his pet hamster and tortures the family dog. Dr. Phil suggests she seek immediate help, and advises the following:


Stop the fighting. Fighting in front of children changes who they are. Your fighting writes on the child's slate in permanent ink, and you don't have the right to do it. Be mature enough to recognize that your behavior is affecting a defenseless child, who will have to pay the price.


It's not just the child who needs help, you need help to stop the fighting. Having insight and understanding the problem is not going to stop this, because the payoff from the fighting is too big. You cannot change what you don't acknowledge.


Recognize the severity of the situation. If you think killing a hamster and torturing a dog is where it's going to stop, you're wrong. A child harming or killing a family pet is a precursor to some very serious violent behavior. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty against animals don't stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans. Children who harm family pets are at risk for other kinds of acting out behavior and need immediate help. What also goes along with torturing animals is setting fires. If you smell smoke, you'd better take it seriously.

Additional information from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals:


Studies show that acts of cruelty toward animals are the first signs of violent pathology that includes human victims.

Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser, but a symptom of a deep mental disturbance.

The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers.

Studies show that violent and aggressive criminals are more likely to have abused animals as children.

Domestic abuse is directed toward the powerless; animal abuse and child abuse often goes hand and hand.

Children who abuse animals most likely are repeating a lesson learned at home from their parents or guardians. They are reacting to anger or frustration with violence.

The child's violence is directed at the only individual in the family more vulnerable than themselves — an animal.

Do you think this is true?

Answer 1

Absolutely its true! This parent needs to get this kid help and quick and not get anymore animals!

Answer 2

Children Who Abuse Animals

Answer 3

Yes, there is at least some truth to it, I speak from my own experience. My family wasn't extremely violent, and to some degree outside influences do it also, such as in the neighborhood where you live and television, so as adults we draw the lines to controlling or changing that which we can.
It doesn't have to be violence per se, but yelling matches are a good start, that's considered violence.
As for what you can do, just tone it down a bit in the acting out your frustrations department, and it would help if your spouse was with you on this, and keep an eye on what your child watches on tv and the group he hangs out with, but beyond that life is life.

Answer 4

Very, very true. Thats why you need to not fight in front of your children. however, there are cases where they dont turn out bad. My boyfriend and I are a good example. When he was little and until he moved out, his parents fought constantly and they hurt eachother a lot. The same happened with my parents and my mom, but both my boyfriend and I pamper our pets and would never dream of hurting them because we both know the pain it causes to be hurt by someone you love or trust.

Some children cant let go and begin shooting/strangling/cutting animals because they are weaker than them. They are learning the bad lessons from their parents. Children in situations like those need to be removed from the parent and household immediately. I believe we can stop serial killers at the 'root' if we would just help those people instead of pointing and laughing because they're 'poor white trash' or some other crap like that.

This is a very real situation.

Answer 5

There are more kinds of violence than just against animals, but hitting animals out of anger or fun is very bad, and leads to more bad behavior.

In fact, in sub-cultures where children kill and torture animals, more children join gangs.

Sometimes torture of insects is done by kids who don't grow up to be violent. But the more the animals seem real, the more you should be worried.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with killing farm animals for food or attacking an animal that might cause danger. But torturing pets is very real cause for concern.

Answer 6

A child who harms an animal in any way is definitely headed in the wrong direction. A child who kills an animal has serious mental and emotional issues and needs help right away!

Answer 7

Yes actually. It's very true in terms of researching criminology, psychology, and sociology.

Some of the most notorious serial killers in history, got their start from harming/abusing animals. Jeffrey Dahmer, is probably one of the most noted criminal cases of such acts.

Answer 8

Um yes this is very true, they learn from their environment.
Its something like nature vs nurture.
It starts out as children hurting animals and often according to research develops into ANTISOCIAL-PERSONALITY DISORDER. marked by irresponsible and socially disruptive behaviour and will manifest into sometimes criminal behaviour.
The child needs to be removed from this environment, yet great damage will already have occured. the years up till about 12 years appear to be the most sensitive years in child development, actually its probably earlier and up to about 6 years of age.

Answer 9

The child may be a sociopath and from what I understand, there is no treatment for that. They lack empathy and it will continue through adulthood and they should be locked up as soon as a diagnosis is made to prevent future violence.

Answer 10

Yes of course!! The child and mom both need help NOW!