Wednesday, August 25, 2010
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Angela Speed
(414) 431-6104 aspeed@wihumane.org

Cat Found Beaten, Burned on Northwest Side of Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – Three men brought a burned, beaten cat to the Wisconsin Humane Society this afternoon. The dead feline had been found at the intersection of 37th and Garfield, with a brick lying by his head. The men had been working on a roof at a nearby building.

Dr. Randal Zeman identified the cat as a red tabby and confirmed that he had been beaten and set on fire. The cat was not wearing a collar or any identification.

Dezarae Jones Hartwig, education manager at WHS, explained that “whenever an animal is abused, a chain reaction begins in our community. Not only does an innocent animal get injured, but the person who commits the offense often falls into a cycle that could ultimately result in violence against other people. Countless violent offenders have histories of animal abuse, including some of the most notorious criminals in history. Jeffrey Dahmer, the Columbine shooters, the Son of Sam… they all abused animals before becoming violent with people.”

The evidence of a link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans is compelling. According to a 1997 study done by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Northeastern University, animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are individuals without a history of animal abuse. In addition, the FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children.

The Wisconsin Humane Society offers several educational programs to end the cycle of violence and to educate young people to appreciate cats and all living creatures. For more information about the link between animal abuse and violence against humans, or about reporting animal abuse, please visit www.wihumane.org.

If you find a lost or stray cat, please bring them to MADACC. They are located at 3839 W. Burnham Street in West Milwaukee. You can also go to their website at www.madacc.com or call them at 414-649-8640.

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