Introduction
Apparently, animal cruelty is among the most prominent phenomena in the state of Texas. Currently, most human services agencies as well as other animal rights bodies have invested much effort into having the law configured in such a way that it addresses the relationship between the perpetrators of such heinous crimes and the enforcers of the laws. In the recent years, the legislation of the Texan society has been modified in such a style that all the people that are caught or prosecuted for the felony of maltreating animals are held answerable for the same. Unfortunately, the legislation is held in self contradiction, since it provides for the protection of children against being answerable for felonies, as they do not have the capacity to explain such concepts as consent (Beirne, 2009). Apparently, most perpetrators of the crimes against animals are children. The victims of such cruelty are pets and other farm animals. A recent research in Houston Texas indicates that the most targeted animals are farm animals, dogs being the most common targets. This paper endeavors to explain why the Texan laws should be altered so as to solve the big issue that is animal cruelty resulting from human violence.
The key problem
My big idea focuses on the relationship between animal cruelty and human violence. For decades now, social scientists, psychiatrists, legislators and animal rights activists have been upholding efforts to establish the link between animal cruelty and violent tendencies among the human race. The research, carried out by psychologists in the Texan state, found out that 85 percent of those accused of such heinous crimes as rape and murder had at one point in their lives killed or maltreated an animal (Linzey, 2009). This formed the basis of the investigation into the link between delinquents and animal abuse. The findings of the investigation established that 91% of the delinquents in Texas had at one point lost a beloved pet. The loss of the pet initiated a feeling of inhumanness in such young people. They lost feelings for any form of suffering, be it to animals or humans. Essentially, children that had witnessed the senseless killing of animals were more likely to become animal abusers than those that had lived peacefully with the animals.
Texan studies, carried out by social scientists indicate that animal abuse was a concept so closely linked to domestic violence. Children, whose parents had abusive tendencies, were the most prominent animal abusers. According to the research, most abusive people had the tendency to killing animals whenever they were angered. A landmark case was the case of Michael Cartier, a serial killer that killed his girlfriend, dog pet and finally shot himself. The case caused many researchers to embark on thorough research into the psychological explanations behind the case. The researchers established that, from Michael Cartier’s past, the major reason behind his conduct was a history of constant abuse by the father. Michael Cartier’s father, a drug addict and serious drunk, would rough up his wife and kids. He had the tendency to kill dogs. This, according to psychologists initiated a sense of heartlessness and hunger for power. A child from a family characterized by violence believes that there is too much power in being violent (Beirne, 2009). They therefore find pleasure in killing helpless animals and human beings. According to research by The National Humane Society, most people that had been prosecuted for killing street urchins were animal abusers.
What magnifies the problem of animal abuse and cruelty is the fact that despite the many findings on the relationship between animal cruelty and human violence, little has been done to solve the problem. The law makers remain quite on the issue, and this has seriously thwarted the efforts of animal rights agencies. Another significance problem is the fact that community members are not informed of the potential dangers and implications of animal cruelty (Merz-Perez & Heide, 2003). The lack of assistance on the side of the government has been described as a key cause of the rate at which the menace is increasing in the Texan society today. Additionally, the law has not defined clearly, who is to be held liable for the cruelty against animals.
The solution
While the government remains dormant on the issue of animal cruelty, it has a supreme role to play in as far as legislation is concerned. Perhaps the point worth noting at this phase is the actuality that the legislation that can come up with the most successful solution to the menace has to touch on such things as domestic violence and child upbringing. The legislation has to address such things as the people to be held answerable in the event that the child abuser is a person of minority age as has been the norm in the Texan society (Merz-Perez & Heide, 2003). The government, through its law making body should device serious penalties for the offenders prosecuted for having performed such heinous criminal activities. Apparently, the solution to the problem is as well rooted in the fact that social setup needs to be restructured. The ultimate solution lies in the combination of fresh legislation and social reforms. Restructuring the social infrastructure can take the form of sensitizing people on the need to avoid such things as domestic violence.
Apparently, Texan laws have made animal cruelty a serious crime. Its sentence is similar to that of such crimes and felonies as murder. Similarly, as part of the solution to animal cruelty, I would suggest that juvenile delinquents be held answerable as well (Linzey, 2009). They should be subjected to serious penalties since, according to psychologists; the delinquents can develop into being the worst criminals in society as they develop psychopathic tendencies and lack of care and concern for human suffering. Introducing such legal studies to schools, especially high schools and college students, will be of paramount importance since the generation that is growing will be able to realize the end results of all their deeds. This way they may learn to keep away from such activities as the maltreatment of animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is rather apparent that from the foregoing, there is a close relationship between the maltreatment of animals and the propensity of the human race to be aggressive Violent human behavior is inseparable from cruelty towards animals. Researchers have established a close relationship between domestic violence, juvenile delinquency and cruelty to animals. According to the researches, the key cause of the problem is an aspect of nurture rather than nature, since the environment is the greatest determining factor of whether or not a child will grow to be a delinquent. Among the key solutions I would recommend is the fact that the law should be restructured in such a manner that the perpetrators of the felonies are held answerable. Additionally, to have the law become more effective, the legal studies should be made part of the schooling curriculum. Similarly, the social infrastructure, especially family and upbringing should be altered through sensitization, such that such things as domestic violence are kept on the low.
References
Beirne, P. (2009). Confronting Animal Abuse: Law, Criminology, and Human-Animal Relationships. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Linzey, A. (2009). The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence. Brighton [England: Sussex Academic Press.
Merz-Perez, L., & Heide, K. M. (2003). Animal Cruelty: Pathway to Violence against People. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press.
