Animal Cruelty: Watching for the Signs of Teen Violence

You know that you need to show your kids right from wrong, and a great way to do that is by teaching compassion toward animals. Most American households have a furry friend or two. Most parents assume that their children will be kind to those pets. Teen kindness is common, but it isn't always a given. If you see behavior that worries you, such as animal cruelty, it’s important to pay attention. According to Psychology Today, any form of animal abuse could be a red flag for something much worse. Most children and teens will demonstrate a natural level of compassion for our furry friends, so if you notice cruel behavior, you don’t want to shrug it off. Without immediate professional help, a child who exhibits signs of animal cruelty could quickly go on to other acts of teen violence, including mass killings. Harshness toward animals could also indicate low teen self esteem.

Cases of Animal Abuse: Signs of a Cold-hearted Killer?

In 1997, a sophomore from Jackson, MI, shot a number of his classmates with a hunting rifle after stabbing his own mother to death. Police later found documents that accounted for the brutal killing of his pet dog. In a similar incident a year later, a teen from Springfield, OR, opened fire on his classmates after regularly bragging to friends about torturing animals.