Understanding Animal Abuse

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By Katie Ussin

Story Published: Feb 11, 2010 at 6:31 AM MST

Story Updated: Feb 11, 2010 at 11:30 AM MST

BILLINGS - A recent case of alleged animal abuse in Missoula has raised questions about what causes people to abuse animals.

Mike Sullivan, a licensed clinical social worker in Billings, said it is important to identify what is behind the violence.

He said it may be impulsive, a person who has anger issues and just snaps.

Or, it may be more intentional and a sign of deeper issues.

"The individual who engages in instrumental violence is much more likely to be criminally oriented; an abuser of people, probably abuses children, spousal abuse would be fairly typical, likely abuses substances and could very well be psychopathic," said Sullivan.

Sullivan said cruelty towards animals among children usually signifies emotional problems and may be an indicator of emerging anti-social and criminal personality characteristics.

He said the behavior should be addressed by a child psychologist. Last week a Missoula man killed himself while authorities attempted to arrest him on an animal cruelty charge.

The incident is remains under investigation.

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BJR36JRG said on Friday, Feb 12 at 11:01 PM

There is absolutely no excuse for animal abuse any more than there is an excuse for mistreating a child - so don't expect anyone to understand. Just get the courts to become astute and send these abusers to jail where they belong and will have time to repent harming innocent animals. This type of scum has no integrity and no conscience plus they are a danger to civilized society.

TK said on Thursday, Feb 11 at 10:23 PM

Actually cruelty to animals are lazy people hence the neglect that many pets face not just cats& dogs but other animals too. Sadly some people get tired of their pets so their tiredness turns into frustration. Also, many people may not realize that they are being mean after all when they were kids they seen previous family members act like that to a pet just because it went potty on the floor or got on the car having the nails claw it or jump on it with muddy footprints . Watch its me or the dog. So Remember it's not always an emotional behavior . It even shows the lazy abuse on animal cops . Even sadly some cops can act cruel to some animals when not needed. A dog on its miracle a show a few years back was tricked by its owner to be left on it's own in a town where cops shot strays . The dog did get shot but didn't die a family found that dog got the bullet out and adopted the dog. the dog saved their son's life by pulling him out of the river .

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