Animal abuse

"One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it," anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote.

I recall seeing some horrifying pictures in local newspapers of tortured animals that would sicken me for the rest of the day, then they stopped and recently I was reminded of it all by a letter in the newspaper regarding an incident that involved two Maltese teenagers. No, I shall not comment on their behaviour; I would like to point out though a few facts.

Children who abuse animals are more likely to endorse interpersonal violence. This is only the mild beginning.

In 1993 Richard Allen Davis was convicted of kidnapping, raping and strangling 12-year-old Polly Klass in California. As a boy of 14 he had set cats on fire and used dogs as targets in practising knife throwing. Fifteen-year old Kip Kinkel too bragged about torturing and killing animals to his friends. But they are not his friends anymore, not since he walked into his school cafeteria in Oregon, in 1998, and opened fire on his classmates, killing two and wounding 22 more.

Exaggerated, you might think? But is not letting these youngsters get away with it creating a breeding ground for future criminals, even killers! St Francis of Assisi said it all way back in the 13th century: "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellowmen."

I cannot imagine any of these animal abusers ever becoming truly a normal functioning human being. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of the lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love. And, no, not all these children come from abusive, dysfunctional families; Kip Kinkel came from a solid, intact middle-income family.

This is a crucial point since someone might dismiss a child's suspected cruelty if they know that that particular family is not dysfunctional. And the family itself might dismiss it, too.

We really must watch our children closely if we want to really get to know them, base a relationship on friendship with them and not fear.

In today's fast-paced life, our children are maturing faster but still they yearn for love and attention and it all boils down to these two very important factors.