Animal cruelty pathway to violence against people written by linda merz perez and kathleen m heide is a comprehensive look into the relationship between animal cruelty in children and a future in violence throughout history the relationship between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence has been put on the back burner. Animal cruelty pathway to violence against people linda merz perez kathleen m heide altamira press 2004 social science 191 pages 2004 social science 191 pages. In animal cruelty pathway to violence against people linda merz perez and kathleen m heide provide insight into the horrors of violence against animals by building on previous research that examined the link between animal cruelty and human interpersonal violence the study begins with four case studies of animal cruelty and the authors appropriately warn that these vignettes are not to be read by the squeamish. Practitioners in the animal welfare field law enforcement circles and social services arena have often maintained that childhood cruelty to animals is a forerunner to violence against people does this behavior serve as a red flag with respect to extremely violent offenders such as serial killers is it part of the cycle of violence associated with domestic abuse. Practitioners in the animal welfare field law enforcement circles and social services arena have often maintained that childhood cruelty to animals is a forerunner to violence against people