Acts of cruelty such as the killing of the dog named Sam by children confirms the state of chaos within our society and illustrates just how much is going wrong within our communities and families, and how much danger South African children find themselves in.
Troubled children who have either witnessed or experienced abuse are far more likely to mistreat animals.
Society struggles to understand why any child would mistreat an animal. The motivation for this kind of behaviour can broadly be classified into three categories:
* Curiosity or exploration, where the animal is injured or killed in the process of being examined. Children in this category are likely to be young or developmentally delayed, poorly supervised and lacking training on the physical care and humane treatment of animals, especially family pets, stray animals and/or neighbourhood wildlife.
Humane education interventions (teaching children to be kind, caring and nurturing towards animals) by parents, caregivers and teachers are likely to be sufficient to prevent animal abuse in these children.
Young children might tug the cat’s tail or pull the dog’s hair out of curiosity or mischief. These can be moments for parents or other adults to teach children about empathy by pointing out the animal’s feelings and needs.
* Pathological animal abuse is usually, but not always, perpetrated by older children. Rather than indicating a lack of education about the humane treatment of animals, animal abuse by these children may be symptomatic of psychological disturbances of varying severity.
For example, a number of studies have tied childhood animal abuse to childhood histories of physical abuse, sexual abuse and exposure to domestic violence. In these cases, professional, clinical intervention is warranted.
* Delinquent animal abuse is most likely to be inflicted by adolescents whose animal abuse may be one of a number of antisocial activities. In some cases, the animal abuse may be a component of gang/cult-related activities, such as initiation rites, or less formal group violence and destructiveness.
The use of alcohol and other substances may be associated with animal abuse for these youth, and they may require both judicial and clinical interventions.
In South Africa, cruelty towards animals can be seen to be rooted in the notion that violence in South Africa, whether perpetrated against a person or animal, has become normative rather than deviant.
However, when a child of any age shows intentional cruelty towards animals that is repeated, severe and without remorse, this should be taken very seriously.
It is not only crucial to keep animals safe, but childhood animal abuse is linked to other forms of violence and psychopathology. Animal abuse is often the first manifestation of serious emotional turmoil that may escalate into extreme violence.
Research shows that 10 to 25% of children in mental health facilities have perpetrated some form of animal cruelty. It is estimated that one in four children and adolescents with conduct disorder has abused animals. Children who have been physically abused and exposed to domestic violence are at even higher risk to abuse animals. In an assessment of 1 433 children ages 6 to 12, research found that among abused children, 60% had abused animals. Animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people.
Since the 1970s, research has consistently reported childhood cruelty to animals as the first warning sign of later delinquency, violence and criminal behaviour.
Almost all perpetrators of violent crime, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo (the Boston strangler), David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam) and Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, had a history of animal cruelty in their profiles.
Cruelty to animals is not inherent, but learnt. What is done to you, you very often do to others. Teaching kindness and respect for animals, in our schools and homes, will foster empathy and the ability to understand what someone else feels.
Incorporating the simple concepts of kindness and respect into our daily lives and teaching our children to respect and protect even the smallest and most despised among us, will help children value one another.
* Soraya Solomon is the chief executive officer of Nicro, the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders.