This letter is in response to the Nov. 10 article, “Teen charged with abusing cat after video shared on social media.”

It is imperative that, if convicted, the Lewiston teen charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, after reportedly posting a video of himself swinging a cat by the tail before slamming the animal onto the pavement, receive prompt intervention to prevent his violence from continuing.

Cruelty to animals can be a precursor to other violent behavior. Without intervention, teens who commit cruelty to animals routinely go on to abuse their fellow human beings.

Youths who abuse animals need counseling and a ban on contact with animals. If people know or suspect someone is harming animals, they should notify authorities immediately — for everyone’s safety, now and in the future.

Melissa Rae Sanger, Brighton, Michigan, PETA staff writer