Animal care must be taught young

With concern building about the ill treatment of animals and its links to violence against people, it has become increasingly important to educate children from a young age on how to care for animals if cruelty is to be reduced.

Associate Professor Eleonora Gullone, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, recently spoke at a gathering in Hobart which called for Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Acts to be reviewed.

Deputy Premier Bryan Green had written to the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee requesting the review, allowing Associate Professor Gullone to discuss the chilling links between animal cruelty and human violence.

“Once behaviour such as cruelty to animals has developed, it’s very difficult to treat when they enter adulthood. It is important for adults to intervene early and teach the proper ways of caring for animals, which can also further prevent cruelty to humans,” Associate Professor Gullone said.

In her research, Associate Professor Gullone highlights the co-occurrence between animal abuse behaviours and aggression and violence towards humans, while recognising animal abuse as an expression of antisocial behaviour.

Animal abuse should be considered an important indicator of antisocial behaviour and violence, and since it develops in childhood, a history of antisocial behaviour is predictive of a large range of problems during adulthood including criminal behaviour and violence.

“It is often easier in childhood to be violent towards an animal than against a parent, sibling or adult. This type of displaced aggression is a pattern that will continue throughout life if not corrected early,” Associate Professor Gullone said.

Her research has shown that repeated acts of animal cruelty to socially valued animals, such as dogs and cats, are more likely to be associated with acts of violence towards people than isolated acts of cruelty to less socially valuable species, such as rats.

When a person is able to continually abuse an animal that many would consider as part of the family, they view the animal as a worthless, hated object. If the abuse continues into adulthood, offenders are likely to begin to view humans in the same light.

Associate Professor Gullone hopes that the call for the act to be reviewed will assist with developing the best possible protection framework for animals while dealing effectively with offenders to prevent further mistreatment.