The following animal abuse facts illustrate the larger societal problem posed by the mistreatment and neglect of animals.

Animal Abuse Fact 1
A 2003 non-scientific study by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) found that adult and teenage males commit a high percentage of intentional animal abuse.

Animal Abuse Fact 2
The same HSUS study found that shooting is the most common form of intentional animal abuse.

Animal Abuse Fact 3
Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious, repeated animal abuse. Many of our most notorious criminals have histories of animal abuse, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert de Salvo "The Boston Strangler," David Berkowitz "The Son of Sam," and many of the recent school shooters.

Animal Abuse Fact 4
The American Psychiatric Association lists animal cruelty as one of the behaviors signaling conduct disorder.

Animal Abuse Fact 5
A 1997 study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that 70% of animal abusers had committed at least one other criminal offense. Almost 40% had committed violent crimes against people.

Animal Abuse Fact 6
A 1986 study found that 48% of convicted rapists and 30% of convicted child molesters admitted to committing acts of animal abuse in childhood or adolescence.

Animal Abuse Fact 7
Surveys conducted in women's shelters in Wisconsin and Utah in the late 1990s found that 74% of pet-owning women reported that a pet had been threatened, injured, or killed by the abusers.

If these animal abuse facts shock and upset you, visit our Take Action Against Animal Cruelty section to learn more about how you can help the animals in your community and around the world.