Letters to the Editor

To the editor:

Our hearts go out to the family of Teddy, a dog who was allegedly fatally stabbed by a neighbor in front of his guardians.

The police should be commended for taking this case seriously. Research shows that people who are violent to animals often move on to abuse humans. The FBI collects data on cases of cruelty to animals and has found that a history of animal abuse regularly appears in its records of serial rapists and murderers. A study conducted by Northeastern University found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.

Most notorious killers, including Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz and Jeffrey Dahmer, started out killing animals. In an eerily similar case, BTK killer Dennis Rader reportedly once shot a dog in front of the dog’s owners and several neighbors.

Cruelty to animals is a red flag and a sign of mental disturbance that should never be dismissed as “boys being boys.”

Please, if you ever witness cruelty to animals, report it to authorities immediately for the sake of both animals and the community as a whole.

Teresa Chagrin
Norfolk, Virginia
Animal Care Issues Manager, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals