Animal cruelty acts as a red flag for other types of violence

More than two-dozen states now permit courts to bar convicted animal abusers from owning pets or even associating with animals — a nearly two-fold increase from 10 years ago — and three additional states are weighing passage of similar measures. “It’s not that animal abuse is more prevalent,” said one expert. “What has changed over the past few years is the recognition that animal abuse is often a warning sign for other types of violence and neglect.” The New York Times