MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Scottsdale-based forensics psychiatrist Steven Pitt recently teamed up with the Arizona Humane Society to help the group better understand the mind-set of animal abusers. A consultant for a number of law enforcement agencies in metro Phoenix and around the nation, Pitt looks to figure out why an individual abuses animals.

"It's the dark side of human behavior," Pitt said. "I've evaluated countless people who have engaged in heinous activities. There's an undeniable link between people who engage in interpersonal violence and animal violence. That's not to say everyone who has a history of abusing animals will become a serial killer. This is to raise the level of awareness."

Kim Noetzel, the society's marketing and community relations vice president, said Pitt offered to help the group with a serial animal-abuse case several years ago. Impressed with his work, the Humane Society recently approached him about working with it as animal abuse continues to soar.

"We knew he was not only a respected doctor, but someone who generally cared about pets and animals," Noetzel said. "With the increasing numbers of violence against animals, the question we constantly get is why is this happening? We've never really been able to address why these horrible things are happening. Dr. Pitt will give us some insight to help find out why."

Pitt, who is providing his services to the nonprofit group for free, will work with Humane Society investigators on particularly heinous, unsolved animal-cruelty cases and those involving serial offenders.

He will also assist in developing community service opportunities for convicted offenders and provide insight to the issues that compel some people to injure, sexually assault or kill animals in a violent manner.

"The common perception is that every serial killer has started by perpetrating against animals," Pitt said. "Some are engaged in animal torture, but to say that's the first step isn't true. There is a link. The common thread is you're dealing with people with poor impulse control and anger."

Pitt said when animal abuse occurs, authorities should look for other signs of abuse in the home, and vice versa.

"The core question doesn't change very much trying to understand and interview someone who has murdered another person or committed animal cruelty," Pitt said.

"We try to get an understanding of the person and the person's makeup. There are a series of questions geared toward understanding someone. We look at educational background, psychological history, employment history and social history, among other things. We want to understand the person and what prompted the behavior that made them have contact with the law. The behavior seldom happens in a vacuum."

Pitt said he tries to get an understanding of what makes an animal abuser tick. He said there's no profile for an abuser or those who hurt or kill people. "If it were a cookie cutter, we'd be able to prevent more violence against animals and human beings," Pitt said.

Pitt has an impressive resume. He has testified and consulted in a number of jurisdictions throughout the U.S., participating in cases involving serial rape, sexual harassment, murder-for-hire, psychiatric autopsy, impaired professionals, domestic homicide, psychiatric malpractice, workplace violence, school violence, sexual homicide, stalking, spree murder, infanticide and mass murder. He also consults for law enforcement agencies about interviewing strategies.

He has also been involved in several notable cases, including four years as a consultant for the Boulder, Colo., District Attorney's Office and Boulder Police Department in the homicide investigation of Jon-Benet Ramsey. He also served as an adviser to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office regarding the Columbine High School tragedy. He was a member of the Phoenix Police Department's "Baseline Killer" task force.

Pitt appreciates the chance to work with the Humane Society to find answers about animal cruelty.

"I see it as a win-win situation," he said. "The goal is to raise the level of awareness. I don't want to oversell my stock. I'm a consultant, an extra tool in the bag. If issues come up and we can get a better understanding of why people perpetrate against animals, everybody wins."

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