Empirical evidence clearly shows that violence directed toward animals is a reliable precursor for other forms of violence. Animals, especially pets, can get caught up in a cycle of family violence. Women and children are sometimes intimidated into silence about sexual or other abuse through threats made toward a favorite pet. Pets are sometimes hurt or killed to punish a child for something that the child did. Abused children may act out aggression and frustration on a pet they perceive as even more vulnerable than they are. Also, physically or sexually abused children may kill their pets rather than have them hurt by the adult abuser in the home. Given the link between violence toward animals and other forms of violence, many State laws are inadequate for appropriate intervention in cases of cruelty to animals. Only 10 States have felony-level penalties for acts of cruelty to animals other than dog fighting. Laws that require treatment for animal abusers would also be appropriate. At the very least, malicious cruelty to animals calls for a psychological examination of the perpetrator, which should become part of that person's record. Further, a tracking number should be assigned to animal cruelty convictions to support research into criminal patterns that include violence to animals. Investigations into criminal patterns of cases that include cruelty to animals are often impeded by not being able to identify the cases. 13 notes