(SIOUX CITY, IA) - You likely remember the story of "Sneegles," a Sioux City dog beaten within inches of death last summer; beaten by it's owner's cousin.

"It was kind of a gruesome scene to where there was blood up the walls, blood all over the floor, everywhere," said Jewel Starr, Sneegles owner after the attack. She said Eldon Wabasha, her cousin, had been drinking and got in a fight moments before she said he savagely beat the dog. "I'm thinking maybe after he got in a fight up the street he was still angry," she said, crying.

According to Dr. Dan Gillette of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute, misplaced anger is one of the most common causes of any abuse. "Displaced aggression, the classic kick the dog syndrome where you're upset at someone or something else and you take it out on someone or something other than what you are actually mad at in the first place," he explained.

American Humane, a group dedicated to protecting children and animals, highlights several studies on its web site that link animal and child abuse. It quotes a 1983 survey that found in 88% of homes where child abuse occurred, the same parent also abused animals. The group also contends childhood violence towards animals can point to problems in the future. 

It's research Hope Cameron of Sioux Center, Iowa argues deserves more attention. "You do this to an animal, you're going to do it to a child, you're going to do it to a spouse," she said. Cameron and her husband Rick have rescued several animals in their lives together. Rick noted the same studies, saying, "They're hurting animals, they're just a step away from hurting a human."

 

 

Reported by Jeremy Maskel. You can reach Jeremy at jmaskel@kmeg.com. Friend him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jmaskel or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jermaskel.