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There is a link between animal abuse and domestic violence. According to a recent study conducted by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (M.S.P.C.A.) and Northeastern University, people who abuse animals are five times more likely than non-animal-abusers to commit violent crimes against people. The M.S.P.C.A. conducted a study of 153 individuals who had committed acts of animal cruelty and 153 "next door neighbor" types for a twenty year period and found the following: 1. The connection between animal abuse and other crimes is not limited to just violent crime, but also to anti-social crimes of all types. 2. 70% of the animal abusers had also committed at least one criminal offense as compared to 22% of the non-animal-abuser group. 3. 38% of the animal abusers had committed violent crimes against people as compared to only 7% of the non-animal-abuser group. 4. Only one in ten animal abusers receive a jail sentence. In another survey, conducted by Professor Frank Ascione of Utah State University in Logan, Utah, it was discovered that 72% of the abused women who had pets were in situations in which the pet was harmed or threatened to be harmed. Other studies in New Jersey and England indicate that about 85% of the abused women who have pets have had their pets harmed or threatened. HOW AND WHY IS THIS ABUSE STARTED? Domestic abuse is generally directed towards the powerless or weaker individual, so when there is animal abuse, it is almost certain that there is child abuse and/or abuse on women as well. The children of abuse may also abuse animals out of frustration by directing their violence at the only individual more vulnerable than themselves. As I mentioned in the May/June 1997 Pet Tribune, some of our more famous serial killers, such as Albert DeSalvo a/k/a "The Boston Strangler" and Jeffrey Dahmer, were animal abusers when they were children. This pattern of abuse by children towards animals continues on into adulthood where the next level of abuse is on women and children. Of course, there are many instances of girls abusing animals and wives abusing husbands, but generally, it is the male of the human species that causes the trouble.		WHAT CAN BE DONE? First, there must be better-kept statistics of animal abuse by the police departments, the State's Attorney's Offices and women's shelters so that a more accurate measure of this problem can be determined. Second, tougher laws need to be made and tougher sentences need to be carried out in animal abuse cases. As I mentioned in my November/December 1996 Pet Tribune, most animal abuse cases are misdemeanors or weak Third Degree Felonies. This cavalier attitude about animal abuse must stop. The public should cry-out to the law-makers demanding tougher laws on animal abuse, because they deserve our protection, but even to those individuals who generally don't care about animals should be concerned, because animal abusers go on to abuse people as an escalating pattern of abuse. To follow up on the Judge's sentence in the Noah's Ark massacre in Iowa (that was not imposed until after I had written the February/March 1998 Pet Tribune), the Judge sentenced the two teenagers to 23 days in the County Jail followed by two years probation for breaking into Noah's Ark animal shelter and bashing to death 23 cats with baseball bats. The Iowa Judge's sentence was very weak, to say the least, and it is likely that the boys did not learn a lesson from their despicable acts. Statistics show that when they become adults, there is an excellent chance they will abuse women and children, too. Sgt. Sherry Schlueter of the Broward Sheriff's Office (B.S.O.) has set up, on her own, an organization called Domestic Violence Companion Animal Rescue Effort, known as "Domestic Violence C.A.R.E." This organization helps women provide shelters for their pets when they leave an abusive atmosphere, since most women's shelters do not provide for animals. If you care to help, please contact Sgt. Schlueter c/o the Broward Sheriff's Office and to the attention of the Domestic Violence C.A.R.E. or call her at 954 321 4830. Steven Mark Logan, born in Rochester, New York 1957- B.S. New Hampshire College 1979, J.D. California Western School of Law 1983. Former Prosecutor in Broward County, Florida. Private practice emphasizing criminal defense (except animal abuse), also practicing Family Law and Animal Rights. He can be reached at 954 522 3902, E-mail: ZDPR15A@Prodigy.com