The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that Animal abuse will be prosecuted as a “crime against society” and the agency will collect data on animal cruelty crimes through its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
Animal abuse is now a Group A felony, which classifies the crime in the same category as murder, arson, drug trafficking and assault, reports WDBJ7.
The FBI released an official definition of animal cruelty:
“Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment. Included are instances of duty to provide care, e.g., shelter, food, water, care if sick or injured; transporting or confining an animal in a manner likely to cause injury or death; causing an animal to fight with another; inflicting excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering, e.g., uses objects to beat or injure an animal. This definition does not include proper maintenance of animals for show or sport; use of animals for food, lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.”
The agency will begin gathering information about animal abuse in 2016, according to WDBJ7.
Offenders of animal abuse will now be tracked by the FBI throughout their lives – similar to sex offenders. The tracking will ensure they not only receive appropriate sentences, but don’t become repeat offenders.
FBI Special Agent Alan Brantley, now retired, once reported that the agency interviewed 36 serial murderers and asked them about animal cruelty. Most described killing and torturing animals as children. Forty-six percent admitted they had abused animals as teenagers. Brantley believes that some offenders kill animals as a rehearsal for killing human victims.
Brantley’s research concluded that in childhood, serial killers chose animals because the animals were viewed as weak and vulnerable. Future victim selection was already in process. FBI studies have found that individuals who engaged in childhood acts of animal cruelty and killing used the same method of killing on human victims.
FBI studies show that serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of dogs, frogs and cats on sticks; “Son of Sam” killer David Berkowitz had poisoned his mother’s parakeet; and the “Boston Strangler” Albert DeSalvo trapped dogs and cats in wooden crates to kill them by shooting arrows through the boxes, reports the Huffington Post.
Humanity is commanded by God to care for, and help prosper, all of His living creatures. When we read the Christian Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:19 says, “For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.”
In Numbers, the angel of God said to Balaam, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”
The FBI has (likely) unknowingly, and finally, put into place a law on Earth the God commanded as law centuries ago. Animal neglect, abuse or cruelty must be punished the same as for humans, otherwise it is blasphemy.
Science has already proven that animals have emotional systems that generate feelings, have spiritual experiences, and suffer. And it seems now, finally, a law enforcement bureau like the FBI, along with scientists, have recognized the only difference between humans and animals is physiology.
