Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals (FAUNA), in partnership with Northwestern State University’s Veterinary Technology program, hosted a community forum last Tuesday evening titled “The Cruelty Connection: Animal Abuse and Human Violence.” Held at the Friedman Student Union Ballroom, the event explored how acts of cruelty toward animals often precede or coincide with domestic violence and other violent crimes. The program was part of FAUNA’s broader Paws for a Cause Week — a slate of events promoting compassion, education, and action for animal welfare in Natchitoches and beyond.
Dr. Herman Soong, a forensic neuropsychiatrist at Tulane University, presented on the connection between animal cruelty and conduct disorders, citing studies that link childhood cruelty to animals with future violent offenses such as domestic abuse, arson, and even homicide.
He explained how empathy can be learned or lost, and how brain imaging shows physical changes in people who exhibit extreme cruelty. Soong discussed how some individuals who witness violence — especially children — may re-enact that trauma through harm to pets, either to feel control or to suppress their own emotional pain.
“If you see someone abusing animals, you need to step in,” Soong said. “Animals cannot testify. We are their voices.”
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore discussed his office’s long-term tracking of violent and juvenile offenders, noting that animal abuse frequently appears in early case histories. “We started including voices from the vet school, child welfare, animal control — because in many cases, police reports already show signs of animal cruelty,” Moore said.
District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington joined guest speakers, NSU leadership and faculty, and community advocates at the forum. He provided local context and a prosecutorial perspective, stating that over 60 percent of individuals charged with animal cruelty in Natchitoches Parish have also faced charges involving harm to people. “Animal abuse comes in all sizes. There are different levels of animal cruelty, animal neglect, animal violence. There are felony levels and misdemeanor levels. It’s important, so we’ve prosecuted all different types of cases. In some of the minor cases, we identified certain defendants that may benefit from programming and education. Through my office, we have animal cruelty prevention classes. I’d rather see somebody with a minor charge get help and stop the cycle.”
He noted that animal cruelty cases are taken seriously and fully prosecuted by his office. He also noted that FAUNA is a valuable partner in these efforts, providing law enforcement with information, coordinating emergency shelter for animals removed from crime scenes, and offering meaningful community service placements that connect defendants to animal care as part of their rehabilitation.
The evening also included the presentation of the FAUNA Vet Tech Endowed Scholarship, a $22,500 gift from FAUNA to the NSU Foundation. The scholarship supports students in Northwestern State’s Veterinary Technology program who demonstrate a commitment to animal care and advocacy. It marks a major milestone in the long-standing partnership between FAUNA and NSU Vet Tech, which spans more than 15 years.
Juanita Murphy, a longtime FAUNA board member, said the event made a lasting impact. “The information shared this evening made a powerful impression. You could see it on people’s faces — they were connecting the dots between animal cruelty and domestic violence in our community. It wasn’t just informative, it was a wake-up call.”
Pearl Walker, an active member of FAUNA, praised the scholarship presentation as a sign of what’s possible when a community comes together. “Seeing FAUNA award this scholarship made me proud of our little town. It shows we’re not just rescuing animals — we’re investing in the next generation of caretakers.”
FAUNA is also overseeing the development of the Edwina & Sam Friedman Pet Adoption & Welfare Center, currently under construction on a six-acre site along the Hwy 1 Bypass. The facility is expected to open in late 2026 or 2027 and will serve as a multipurpose community hub offering adoption services, on-site veterinary care, educational events, volunteer programs, and walking trails.
The event and the broader Paws for a Cause Week align with the District Attorney’s office’s continued focus on Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Harrington emphasized that domestic violence quietly affects too many families right here in Natchitoches Parish — and that change begins when people speak up. “If someone you know is being abused, don’t look the other way. Speak up,” he said. “Your voice might be the one that helps them take the first step toward safety.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24 hours a day via the Louisiana Domestic Violence Hotline at 800‑799‑7233, or call the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office at 318‑357‑2214. For emergency or immediate law enforcement response, dial 911.