Animal Harm: Perspectives on Why People Harm and Kill Animals

This book examines the reasons why people injure, harm or kill animals including the ethical and value judgements they make towards animals and the neutralisations and justifications that are put forward in defence of their actions. It also explicitly considers the link between animal abuse and wildlife crime and other forms of offending such as domestic violence, smuggling and organised crime. The study considers the killing and harm of animals in an international context and from a number of different perspectives including; criminological perspectives, value judgements, ethical considerations and philosophical attitudes towards animals in criminal behaviour, and socio-legal issues concerning how offenders are viewed and treated. It also considers traditional and cultural issues that determine the killing of animals and discusses the reasons why these activities persist despite the introduction of legislation protecting animals.