Punitive Penalties for the Maltreatment of Animals: A Case Study of People’s Perceptions

Abstract

A global need exists to clarify people’s perceptions of animal maltreatment. To investigate citizens’ support of prison sentences for animal maltreatment perpetrators and their justifications, this study compared questionnaire responses with those relating to child maltreatment. In an online experiment conducted among 1,282 Japanese participants, scenarios of a neglected and debilitated child or dog were presented, followed by a questionnaire about imprisonment and punishment justifications. The results revealed that participants preferred a prison sentence of 3.24 years for the abusive behavior in the dog scenario, which is nearly half of the 7.87 years preferred by participants in the child scenario. Women tended to advocate for harsher punishment than men, while younger participants opted for more severe prison sentences than older ones. Furthermore, the study observed contrasting punishment preferences for child and animal maltreatment. In the child scenario, retribution against the offender was preferred. However, in the dog scenario, the respondents preferred general deterrence to retribution, indicating a desire to discourage future crimes through punishment. Considering that citizens’ intuitive punishment for animal cruelty is nearly half that for child maltreatment, the results suggest that societies could apply more stringent punishments for animal maltreatment, especially in places where such mistreatment is prevalent. This study is significant as it clarifies the quantitative difference in prison sentence length between animal and human maltreatment. Previous studies only focused on whether jail time was imposed, without considering the specific duration of the punishment. Future research should consider various acts of maltreatment against different animals to determine which are linked to harsher sentences. Moreover, the influence of cultural and social factors, such as psychological bonding with animals and attitudes toward animal care, should be explored across diverse societies.