Animal Cruelty and Neighborhood Conditions.

animal cruelty neighborhood disorganization theories of animal cruelty

Journal

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
Titre abrégé: Animals (Basel)
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101635614

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
11 Nov 2020
Historique:
received: 26 10 2020
accepted: 30 10 2020
entrez: 14 11 2020
pubmed: 15 11 2020
medline: 15 11 2020
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Animal cruelty appears to be widespread. Competing theories have been posed regarding the causes of animal cruelty leading to conflicting findings and little direction for public policies to combat it. To assess the applicability of extant theories of the causes of animal cruelty: domestic violence; deviance; perpetrator traits; and social disorganization. Data are drawn from police department reports of animal cruelty in the City of Detroit from 2007 to 2015; 302 incidences of animal cruelty were reported. Multiple regression is used to determine the theory which best appears to account for animal cruelty. Common types of animal cruelty in Detroit are shooting; blunt force trauma; neglect; and dogfighting. While most incidents involve unknown persons; cruelty by owners; neighbors; and domestic partners is also common. Neighborhood conditions in terms of economic stress; vacancy and blight; and crime appear to have the greatest impact on animal cruelty. The findings from Detroit support deviance and social disorganization theories of animal cruelty. Neighborhood conditions in terms of economic stress, vacancy and blight, and crime appear to have the greatest impact on animal cruelty in this urban area.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Animal cruelty appears to be widespread. Competing theories have been posed regarding the causes of animal cruelty leading to conflicting findings and little direction for public policies to combat it.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
To assess the applicability of extant theories of the causes of animal cruelty: domestic violence; deviance; perpetrator traits; and social disorganization.
METHODS METHODS
Data are drawn from police department reports of animal cruelty in the City of Detroit from 2007 to 2015; 302 incidences of animal cruelty were reported. Multiple regression is used to determine the theory which best appears to account for animal cruelty.
RESULTS RESULTS
Common types of animal cruelty in Detroit are shooting; blunt force trauma; neglect; and dogfighting. While most incidents involve unknown persons; cruelty by owners; neighbors; and domestic partners is also common. Neighborhood conditions in terms of economic stress; vacancy and blight; and crime appear to have the greatest impact on animal cruelty.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
The findings from Detroit support deviance and social disorganization theories of animal cruelty. Neighborhood conditions in terms of economic stress, vacancy and blight, and crime appear to have the greatest impact on animal cruelty in this urban area.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33187259
pii: ani10112095
doi: 10.3390/ani10112095
pmc: PMC7696964
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

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Auteurs

Laura A Reese (LA)

Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science, Michigan State University, 517-353-5942, Human Ecology Building 552W, Circle Drive, Room 208A, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Joshua J Vertalka (JJ)

Lucid Spaces, 200 N, Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, USA.

Cassie Richard (C)

Oregon Commission for the Blind, 535 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, USA.

Classifications MeSH