The Animal Cruelty Syndrome and the Brutal Rabbit Killer

Last week, 23-year-old Wayne Brackett Jr. allegedly broke into a construction company and mutilated and killed five rabbits that were being raised by the company owners' 6-year-old daughter.  One rabbit was found hanging by a chain, its ears and tail cut off. Another rabbit was stabbed several times. Another nine rabbits are still missing. Surveillance tapes recorded the bloody incident.

Wayne Bracket's behavior indicates that he could be dangerous to people as well as to rabbits, according to a recent article in The New York Times. The article, titled The Animal Cruelty Syndrome, details the connections between violence against animals and other forms of violence.

Seventeenth century philosopher Immanuel Kant once wrote: "He who is cruel animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."

The New York Times article explains that the connection between animal abuse and other violent behavior is so well established that both social service agencies and animal agencies now look at animal abuse as a possible sign of domestic violence or child abuse.

The article cites a 1997 survey, when 85 percent of domestic violence victims reported incidents of animal abuse in their home. In another study featured in the article, a quarter of battered women reported they had not left abusive relationships out of fear of what would happen to the pet they left behind. According to the ASPCA, the number of women who delayed seeking help may be as high as 50 percent. In response, a number of shelters started to allow victims of domestic violence to bring their pets.

There is a pervasive belief in our society that a human life has a greater value than an animal life, and that belief is not likely to change anytime soon. But if animal cruelty is an early indicator of interpersonal violence, then perhaps laws will do a better job protecting animals.

The New York Times article admits that cruelty against animals does not necessarily mean someone will commit violence against people. But Wayne Brackett Jr.'s slaughter of the rabbits is so gruesome, so brutal, that he is a probable danger to other people and to himself. His father blamed Brackett's crimes on his inability to cope after his sister's recent death from lung cancer.

Brackett pleaded not guilty yesterday to five felony charges of animal cruelty and five charges of maliciously killing a domesticated animal. Brackett testified that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana and did not remember harming the animals. His mother told the court that her son "needs help."

The court seems to recognizes that Brackett is dangerous, as he is now held on $25,000 bail. Hopefully he will get the help he needs to prevent him from committing future violent crimes against animals or people.

Photo Credit: bpheonix