Lynn Hildebrand serves as a humane education teacher at the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley. Lynn Hildebrand believes that animal abuse is an important topic that is not discussed enough.

2. INTRODUCTION
• LYNN HILDEBRAND SERVES AS A HUMANE EDUCATION TEACHER AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF SAN BERNARDINO
VALLEY. LYNN HILDEBRAND BELIEVES THAT ANIMAL ABUSE IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT IS NOT DISCUSSED
ENOUGH.
NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE FOUND A CORRELATION BETWEEN ANIMAL ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
STARTING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THIS LINK CAN BE BROKEN.
PEOPLE CHARGED WITH CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS WERE THE MOST LIKELY TO LATER COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS
TOWARDS PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT. FROM 2001 TO 2004, 65%
OF OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRIMES ALSO COMMITTED VIOLENT ACTS TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE. IN
ADDITION, PET ABUSE IS A PREDICTOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ACCORDING TO A 2005 STUDY THAT
APPEARED IN THE JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH.

3. ANIMAL ABUSE
• WITH SO MANY STUDIES SUPPORTING THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL ABUSE
AND HUMAN VIOLENCE, MANY PROFESSIONALS FEEL IT CAN BEST BE STOPPED
WITH THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. ANIMAL ABUSE BY CHILDREN IS NOT A
NORMAL OCCURRENCE. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL,
CHILDREN WHO ABUSE ANIMALS ARE SENDING OUT CLEAR WARNING SIGNS
THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE AT RISK. IN MANY CASES, THIS ABUSE IS A
RESULT OF VIOLENCE WITHIN THE HOME. EARLY PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
OF THESE AT-RISK CHILDREN COULD VERY WELL BREAK THE CYCLE OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST BOTH COMPANION ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.