The Cycle of Violence

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The cycle of violence is a chain of circumstances in which an adult abuses a child or animal. The adult passes down the violent traits and patterns to the child, who continues the cycle of violence. Domestic violence, child abuse, and animal abuse have a high correlation to each other, and this cycle of violence will continue until someone steps in to stop it.

Some statistics�

68% of battered women reported violence toward their animals by the batterer. 87% occurred in the presence of the woman and 75% occurred in the presence of children (Quinlisk, 1994-95).

71% of pet-owning women entering a shelter reported that their husband or boyfriend killed, harmed or threatened an animal. 32% of those admitted said that their children had hurt or killed an animal (Ascione, 1998).

A survey of women in a safe house in Utah found that 20% delayed leaving the abusive situation out of fear that their pet would be harmed. Data currently being collected in Canada found almost 50% delayed leaving (Ascione, 1997).

The 1995 Utah survey also found that children witnessed the animal abuse in more than 60% of the cases, and 32% of women reported that one or more of their children hurt or killed a pet.

The Latham Foundation Publication of �Breaking the cycle of Violence: A Practical Guide,� found adolescent histories of animal cruelty in:

25% of aggressive male prisoners

30% of convicted child molesters

36% of assaulters of women

46% of incarcerated sexual homicide perpetrators

48% of convicted rapists

89% of serial murderers

If compassion and respect for animals can be taught at a young age, the violence toward animals can stop and, in turn, lessen the violence toward people.

–Information from Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles

For more information regarding the Cycle of Violence, contact spcala.com and hsus.org

SpayGeorgia does believe that violence toward people is related to violence toward animals. Our mission statement includes, �Animal overpopulation is animal cruelty.�

The Latham Foundation

To foster a deeper understanding of and sympathy with man’s relations — the animals — who cannot speak for themselves,

To inculcate the higher principles of humaneness upon which the unity and happiness of the world depend,

To emphasize the spiritual fundamentals that lead to world friendship

To promote the child’s character through an understanding of universal kinship

http://www.latham.org/

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