The Link
A decade ago, reports of animal abuse connected to human violence were rare in the media. That has changed dramatically. Only in recent years have researchers begun to look seriously at this issue, but the findings are impossible to ignore: Those who abuse animals are more likely to abuse humans, and animal abuse often precedes or coincides with human abuse or domestic violence. There is a clear relationship between the issues of animal abuse and familial abuse – they are both forms of domestic violence.

There is ample evidence to suggest that people who abuse animals are more likely to commit acts of violence against people than those who do not abuse animals. Startling evidence that supports this correlation has come from studies of serial and mass murderers.