For deplorable violent actions against a defenceless animal.

Violent actions against animals should be treated with the full force of the law available.

If the Police fail to prosecute such actions, then the message they are sending is carry on!

Ample research backs up the finding that there is a direct link between acts of cruelty to animals and violence toward humans. This includes child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and other violent behaviour.

This link makes it critically important that cruelty toward animals be taken seriously by law enforcement, and by society at large. This is for the sake of the animals themselves, and for people who are also at risk.

These findings are in line with other research showing that domestic violence toward pets both correlates with domestic violence toward humans, and is also a tool of domestic abuse — violent members of the household will threaten to hurt or actually hurt a companion animal as a method of control and a form of emotional violence. Indeed, more than half of women in domestic violence shelters report that they delayed their escape out of fear for their animals.

Respectful attitudes to animal welfare should be taught from childhood. Police prosecutions in these matters should  act as a deterrent for future cases.

A consequence for an action!