CAMPBELL, Ohio - Cases of animal cruelty are now being included in the national crime database of the FBI. 

Animal cruelty cases that are decided in local courts everyday are now being included in the National Incident-Based Reporting System of the FBI.  

The hope is that by adding these offenses to the national database it will reveal more about the nature of animal cruelty.

Local animal rights advocates, who demonstrate at court cases in support of harsher penalties for animal abusers, say studies have shown that animal cruelty can be a precursor to larger crimes.

"A lot of the people who inflict harm on other humans usually will start with animals before they start abusing or mistreating humans," said Animal Rights Activist Holly Justice. 

The National Sheriff's Association has endorsed the push for better animal cruelty data. The group points to profiles of serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer which revealed links to earlier animal abuse. 

The new national reporting requires not just the crime being reported but all the circumstances of the case as well.  Campbell Law Director Brian Macala believes inclusion in the FBI database could result in better enforcement and prevention.

"I mean, it would have to be on a national basis in order to discover exactly what the true patterns are, and the FBI is best equipped out of any agency there would be to do that," Macala said.

Teah Crew, whose dog was shot and killed by a neighbor in Campbell, also believes the expanded reporting will be beneficial over time.  "I think we're going to see patterns developing once we start keeping track of the animal abusers," said Crew.

 A first look at the national statistics will be available next year.