Fixit: Possible animal abuse should be reported

Q What can someone do if they suspect an animal is being abused? What's considered abuse?

By Karen Youso, Star Tribune

Last update: November 14, 2007 - 3:14 PM

Q What can someone do if they suspect an animal is being abused? What's considered abuse?

A Report animal abuse to a local animal control agency or humane society. They have the authority to investigate and enforce state and local laws and rely on citizens to be their eyes and ears in the community and to report animal suffering.

Alerting authorities to animal cruelty is important because of the broader implications. Intentional abuse of animals is a sign of psychological distress and often indicates that a person either has already experienced violence or may be predisposed to committing acts of violence.

Many studies in psychology, sociology and criminology have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty.

The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children.

Other research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of more common forms of violence, including child abuse, spouse abuse and elder abuse.

In most cases, however, animal cruelty is unintentional neglect that can be resolved through education. Intentional cruelty, or abuse, is knowingly depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, socialization or veterinary care or maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating or killing an animal.

From the Humane Society of the United States

Euros to dollars

Q I just returned from a trip and wonder where I can get my euros changed back to dollars.

A Check with a bank. Wells Fargo banks will exchange foreign currency for their customers and most will do so for noncustomers. The service fee is typically $5. For more information, call Wells Fargo Foreign Exchange Services Department at 1-800-678-4653.

Highland Bank at the Mall of America (west entrance, third floor) will take euros for dollars for a fee.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has a foreign currency exchange counter. Call ahead for locations and restrictions: 612-726-5187.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.

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