This is exactly the type of crime that needs to be investigated thoroughly - not only because the perpetrators need to be brought to task for their actions, but more importantly, in order to prevent these kids from growing into adults who will abuse other people.

We have the facts now, and recognize that when children are little, they will abuse those that are smaller and weaker than they are, namely animals. And when these same children are grown, they will continue to abuse those who are smaller and weaker than themselves, namely children and women.

My despair is that we will simply give the kids a very minor sentence, and hope the incident is over. It is never over. When the propensity for abuse is there, often because the child has been exposed to abuse, it will never recede; it will only escalate as the anger and rage inside that person become even more unmanageable.

The only solution to preventing this pattern is to catch the children while they are young enough to be influenced by in-depth therapy and in many cases, find the source of their violent propensities and remove them from that environment.

Because we have known all of these facts and statistics for decades, it is so frustrating and sad to see that all the social systems are still ignoring the warning signs until it is too late for many of these children. So we'll just go on hating the kids for blowing up bunnies, and then hate them as adults who have grown into wife beaters and child abusers. In spite of the fact that we could have prevented all of that devastation so very easily in the beginning.

The program that Ontario began to implement (if it is still in force) would be a wonderful opportunity to discover the kids at risk and to connect all of the community resources to help prevent this cycle of abuse. How sad that it is only a suggestion in one city and hasn't yet become manditory nation wide. Most likely the reason cited for not expanding this tool will be 'lack of funding'. If I were a totally cynical person, I would think the funding will never be available for issues concerning children and women - come to think of it, I do have the statistics to prove that this is, indeed, a fact.

Even less likely is that there will ever be the funding or commitment necessary to save animals from those who would abuse, young or old.