The FBI is now keeping track of animal abusers
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The FBI is now tracking cases of animal cruelty in a national database.
Previously, these types of cases were listed under “other crimes” and weren’t easily tracked.
Under the new system, animal abuse is categorized under four new categories.
They include; simple or gross neglect, intentional abuse or torture, organized abuse (dogfighting or cockfighting), and animal sexual abuse.
Former FBI criminal profiler, Candice Delong said the new data could help researchers track trends and track increases in animal abuse.
Delong said the database could be useful to profilers because studies have shown that some serial killers abused animals while they were growing up.
“If a parent knows about it or a neighbor, especially a parent, they’re not going to call the police. They’ll just tell little Johnny, ‘Don’t do that again,’” said Delong.
Animal rights advocates say this is a step in the right direction.
Data collection started this month and will be available to the public next year.