What causes people to torture or kill pets?

Question

I have been involved in animal rescue for many years, and have seen some really awful cases of animal abuse. My focus has mostly been in getting rescue and treatment for the animal. But lately i have begun to really wonder what causes seemingly "normal" children and adults to harm and kill their pets. Generally, most people love their pets.

Two stories stand out to me. My friend was raised in a rural community with many neighbors. She recalls all the neighborhood children out playing in spring/summer. Two little boys who were left alone a lot would put firecrackers around dog's necks and laugh as they lighted them and the dogs ran in fear and pain. They also kicked dogs and cats that were their pets. One of them later grew up to drive and run over dogs and snakes intentionally.  The other story that I cant forget is one my mother told about her friend who got her son a puppy, and later found him beating the puppy to death with a brick.

These happened in the days before there were any children's or animal protection "agencies to report to. My question is "What might cause a child or adult to want to harm or kill something that most people cherish and love"?

Slug · Accepted Answer

I was actually questioning this the other day and I am as curious as you are as to why some children feel that harming something weaker than themselves seems to be fun. I work with people and I have worked in places where people have died on a regular basis I have of course treated every body (literally a body) with respect and when laying a person out for the coroner I have talked to the dead person as if they were alive "I am just rolling you over Jack so we can clean you up sweetheart" and colleagues has said "Why are you talking to them they are dead!?" I have stated that it is the last respect of a person that you can give. I have never cried over a person dying and when I see it on the TV I do not cry but if it is an animal I am in tears.

Hard to explain I feel more compassion for animals than people but people are loved by family members some animals are treated as objects and they give the most unconditional love, they never moan if you shout at them they always return with wagging tails they do not judge you I can have an awful day at work I may have been pinched, hit, spat at and called nasty names but my dog is there so happy to see me as if I had left him for a week. I saw on face book a GSD (I wish i had never seen it) some kids got hold of it put a rocket in its mouth cellotaped it closed and lit it. The poor thing had a picture in the vets surgery it looked so relaxed but its muzzle was just bone and skin and was put down I cried my eyes out how dare some kids be so horrible!

Psychologically reported children who harm animals are most likely to commit murder or be a part of ABH on a very severe level  they are usually those who commit rape and so on and usually from a poor or disadvantaged background. This is why offences of animal cruelty should be a criminal offence because even though it is it is not held in the same regard as ABH or GBH on a person however at a young age if it is noted it should be held in the same way.

Anonymous · Answer

Demonic influence.

Anonymous · Answer

psychopathy i think, its very sad,  so nice that you care.

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What causes people to torture or kill pets?

3 Answers