I am so excited to hear that the ASPCA has started construction of the United States’ first Anti-Cruelty Institute in New York. It will open in 2010, and will include a forensic laboratory and veterinary hospital dedicated to animal victims of abuse and neglect.

Of course, this is good news for animal lovers everywhere, but I also learned that there’s another compelling reason to prosecute perpetrators of cruelty and abuse to animals.  According to this article from the Sydney Morning Herald, people who abuse animals are likely to move on to violent crimes towards people.    Examples include serial killers and sexual homicide offenders.

To learn what you can do to help prevent animal cruelty in NYC, check out the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Resource Center and take the pledge to fight animal cruelty.