Violência contra cadela Preta - maio de 2005

Violência contra animal: possível primeiro passo de um novo criminoso

 

A entidade norte-americana de proteção aos animais, Doris Day Animal Foundation (DDAF), contactou a ARCA Brasil, a fim de se posicionar sobre o caso Preta. O resultado dessa parceria foi uma carta escrita por Mary Lou Randour, P.h.D. em psicologia e diretora de educação da DDAF. Nela, Randour coloca um dado relevante sobre a violência para com os animais. Pesquisas realizadas nos EUA ao longo de 3 décadas apontam que a crueldade aos animais está estritamente ligada a uma maior propenção a cometer outros atos criminosos, como violência na família.

A psicóloga enfatiza que a morte de Preta reflete essa situação. Os jovens, de alguma forma, anteciparam o crime, o que pode indicar uma séria patologia. Vale lembrar que um dos estudantes já foi acusado de matar o próprio cão a tiros.

Em carta enviada ao prefeito de Pelotas, Bernardo de Souza, o presidente da ARCA Brasil, Marco Ciampi, também cita a ligação dos maus-tratos aos animais à violência na sociedade. Esse tema foi trazido pela ARCA no 2º. Congresso do Bem-Estar animal, realizado no ano de 2000.

Agradecemos o interesse da DDAF no caso. Mais uma vez, a ARCA Brasil se coloca ao lado daqueles que buscam caminhos para evitar esse tipo de atrocidades para garantir tanto aos animais como aos homens, uma melhor qualidade de vida.

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Carta da Doris Day Animal Foundation (EUA)

 

We are writing in regard to the dog tied to the bumper of a car and dragged until she died in Pelotas, RS. By all accounts, this was a horrifying and sadistic crime that rightfully shocked the community.

To briefly introduce myself, I am a psychologist and Director of Education for the Doris Day Animal Foundation in the United States. Our mission is to create "caring communities" by alerting lay people, professionals, and government officials to the important link between animal cruelty and human violence. We also focus on the positive possibilities in the human-animal relationship, e.g., encouraging compassion and other important psychological skills. Last November I had the honor to present a workshop to the newly formed animal control squad of the Department of Public Security in Mexico City on this topic.

We respectfully propose that this brutal action against this defenseless animal be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by the law and the most stringent penalty be imposed. The link between animal abuse and other crime has been established by over thirty years of research: individuals who commit animal cruelty are more likely to engage in other crimes, including family and interpersonal violence, drug abuse, and property offenses. Taking animal cruelty seriously is an important crime prevention action and it is one that not only protects animals, but also families and communities.

This particular act is disturbing for a number of reasons. It demonstrates that the perpetrators planned their crime, selecting a dog and then tying her to the bumper of a car. The injury inflicted on the dog was not only intentional, but it was prolonged. The fact that the offense was both planned and prolonged indicates that the perpetrators suffer from a serious level of pathology. It is accepted practice in the mental health community that in order to be rehabilitated, offenders need to be held responsible for their actions. Thus, a vigorous prosecution of these two young men will not only keep society and animals safe, but it also is necessary for the welfare of the perpetrators. Additionally, both perpetrators need to have an extensive evaluation by a counselor trained in the assessment and treatment of animal abuse so that they can receive an intervention appropriate for their personalities and their crime.

The Doris Day Animal Foundation is encouraged that colleagues of the two students who brutalized the dog led a movement to bar their return to classes. We commend the students for their courage and willingness to take action.

We also would like to refer you to two booklets available from the Doris Day Animal Foundation. "The Violence Connection" summarizes the research, policies, and programs in the area of animal and human violence and the other, "The Empathy Connection," details the research documenting the importance of empathy in children’s development and the role that animals can play in its development. Both booklets are available on PDF files at www.ddaf.org. To download, click on "programs", then "beyond violence." If requested, we also would be pleased to mail copies to you.

We also applaud the Mayor of the town for issuing a letter in which he condemned this brutal crime. We realize that the murder of this hapless street dog points to a larger population of pet overpopulation. ARCA BRASIL has a comprehensive, effective, and humane Animal Population Control-Spay/Neuter Program that addresses the problem of pet overpopulation at its roots. For more information about this program, please visit: www.arcabrasil.org.br/english/controle.htm or contact: arcabrasil@arcabrasil.org.br

We appreciate your consideration of our viewpoints. Please notify us if there is any way in which we can provide assistance on this, or similar, cases.

Mary Lou Randour, Ph.D.
Director of Education
Doris Day Animal Foundation

 

Carta da ARCA Brasil ao prefeito de Pelotas
Mais notícias sobre o caso da cadela Preta