To the Editor:
The boy who is accused of killing a 6-year-old at Kahkewistahaw First Nation also sadistically killed a mother dog and her puppies on the reservation two years ago, according to the RCMP.
These cases are another example of the undeniable link between cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence. Medical experts and top law-enforcement officials agree: Cruelty to animals is a big red flag. Many serial rapists and murderers, including school shooters, have a background of abusing animals. The FBI uses reports of cruelty in gauging the threat potential of suspected and known criminals, and the American Psychiatric Association identifies such crimes as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders.
It's vital that animal abusers receive intervention - including counseling and a ban on contact with animals - to prevent their violence from escalating. To learn more, visit www.PETA.org.
Martin Mersereau, Norfolk, VA.
