U.S. Organization Offers Additional $2,000 Reward for Cat Mutilation Case


Kelowna - A California-based animal protection organization that has a field office in Kelowna is offering an additional $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender(s) in the local cat mutilation case. In Defense of Animals has 80,000 members internationally and runs an education campaign exposing the link between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence. The campaign's education director lives in Kelowna and has worked with the SPCA and TRACS to double the previous reward value of $2000. The total reward is now $4000.

Studies by the F.B.I. and U.S. Department of Justice, among others, have proven the connection between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. Animal cruelty can range from neglect (failure to provide food, water, shelter or necessary medical care) to intentional abuse, torture or killing. Violent acts toward animals, when left unaddressed, have been linked to intensified violence and neglect and/or expansion to human victims.

"Animal abuse remains under-reported because some witnesses are unaware that anything can be done to stop it. But in fact, reporting animal cruelty helps the police and to the local humane society to protect animals and people from intensified violence." says Jennifer Forrest, IDA's Education Director. "My experience with cases like this is that there is a lot more going on than what we are seeing."

A 1999 Canadian study of 63 suspects who were charged with animal cruelty-ranging from severe animal neglect to intentional killing-found that 78 percent of them had also been charged with offences involving violence, or the threat of violence, against people. A survey of psychiatric patients who had repeatedly tortured dogs and cats found that all of them had high levels of aggression toward people as well.

Animal torture and mutilation is a sign of a violent background, or a psychologically impaired individual who threatens public safety. As a child, serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy-ultimately convicted of two killings but suspected of murdering more than 40 women-witnessed his father's violence toward animals, and he himself subsequently tortured animals. Earl Kenneth Shriner, who raped and stabbed a 7-year-old boy, was known in his neighborhood for hanging cats and torturing dogs. David Berkowitz (a.k.a. "Son of Sam"), who pleaded guilty to 13 murder and attempted murder charges, shot a neighbor's Labrador retriever. Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a California school, killing two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused cats and dogs, often setting their tails on fire. In Littleton, Colorado, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot to death 12 fellow students and a teacher and injured more than 20 others. Both teens had reportedly boasted about mutilating animals. More statistics are available at: http://www.guardiancampaign.com/Violencestats.htm

Anyone with tips on this case is urged to phone TRACS at 768-4803.