CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS

The Crime Museum is an educational resource on law and crime. It is not only concerned with crimes against humanity, but crimes against animals as well.

Sadly, any animal, anywhere in the world, can be a victim of crime. Even our closest companions, our pets can fall victim. Wildlife, horses, and farm animals can also be victims of cruelty and neglect. In some cases, acts done against animals may not be illegal, but can still be cruel.

In the United States, the largest and most effective animal protection organization is The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS has done more to combat illegal animal cruelty and animal fighting than any other organization in the country. The HSUS has the nation’s leading experts on investigating and prosecuting animal abusers, a national tip line to report animal fighting, a standing $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of an animal fighter, and a fully equipped response team to rescue animals in need. In 2010, the HSUS rescued thousands of animals from desperate situations of abuse, and where necessary, helped prosecute those responsible.

In Washington DC, the Washington Humane Society (WHS) is the only animal welfare agency that is officially supported by the government in the United States. WHS provides comfort and care to over 30,000 animals each year through its broad range of programs and services including sheltering and adoption services, humane law enforcement, lost and found services, human and animal therapy programs and humane education.

The following are just some eye-opening facts about animals, crimes and cruelty. We thank The Humane Society of the United States, and the Washington Humane Society, for this information.

•  Did you know that in a shocking number of cases, people who commit terrible acts of violence against people, such as serial killers and child abusers have a history of animal abuse? For example, as a youth, Albert DeSalvo (the Boston strangler) trapped cats and dogs in crates and abused them.
•  Did you know that dog-fighting and cock-fighting are illegal in all 50 states?
•  Did you know that dogs are the most common victims of animal cruelty? Of the 1,880 cruelty cases reported in the media in 2007, 64.5% (1,212) involved dogs.
•  Did you know that 18 red foxes are killed to make one fox coat, and 55 mink are killed to make one mink coat?
•  Did you know that wildlife officials estimate that over 100 million wild animals are illegally hunted each year in the United States?
• Did you know that despite a ban on commercial hunting, a small number of countries still kill thousands of whales every year?