Animal Cruelty – Family Violence & Animal Cruelty: The Link
Animal Cruelty – Family Violence & Animal Cruelty: The Link
AfSD™(ADVOCATE FOR SAVING DOGS™and all living creatures)
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Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
The link between animal abuse and family violence
A connection between animal abuse, family violence and other forms of family and community violence has been established. Child and animal protection professionals have recognized this link, proving that abuse of both children and animals is connected in a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. When animals in a home are abused or neglected, it is a warning sign that others in the household may not be safe. In addition, children who witness animal abuse are at a greater risk of becoming abusers themselves, to animals and humans..
Surveys proving the cycle of violence
A survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child abuse and neglect found that animals were abused in 88 percent of homes where child physical abuse was present. A study of women seeking shelter at a safe house showed that 71 percent of those having pets affirmed that their partner had threatened, hurt or killed their companion animals, and 32 percent of mothers reported that their children had hurt or killed their pets. Still another study showed that violent offenders incarcerated in a maximum-security prison were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have committed childhood acts of cruelty toward pets..
Why do batterers threaten, abuse, or kill animals?
• To demonstrate and confirm power and control over the family
• To isolate the victim and children
• To eliminate competition for attention
• To force the family to keep violence a secret
• To teach submission
• To retaliate for acts of independence and self-determination
• To perpetuate the context of terror
• To prevent the victim from leaving or coerce her/him to return
• To punish the victim for leaving
• To degrade the victim through involvement in the abuse
Why should we recognize animal abuse as a form of battering?
• Animal abuse exposes the deliberateness of battering rather than loss of control
• Animal abuse and child abuse are closely related
• Animal abuse is often a tool used by batterers to emotionally control or coerce victims
• Threatening, injuring, or killing animals can indicate the potential for increased violence or lethality
• Victims may postpone leaving out of fear for their pets’ safety
• Identifying animal abusers can help identify other victims of violence within the family
What can victims of domestic violence do to protect their pets?
• Develop an emergency plan for sheltering the pets, themselves, and their children
• Establish ownership of the pets (obtain an animal license, proof of vaccinations or veterinary receipts in victim’s name to help prove they own the pets)
• Prepare the pets for departure (collect vaccination and medical records, collar and identification, medication, bowls, bedding, etc)
• Ask for assistance from law enforcement or animal care and control officers to reclaim the pets if left behind
What are suggested intake questions regarding pets that should be asked by a domestic violence shelter?
• Do you now have a pet? If yes, how many and what kinds?
• Have you had a pet in the past 12 months? If yes, what kinds?
• Has your partner ever hurt or killed a family pet? If yes, describe
• Has your partner ever threatened to hurt or kill a family pet? If yes, describe
• Have you ever hurt or killed a family pet? If yes, describe
• Have any of your children ever hurt or killed a family pet? If yes, describe
• Was the animal considered the child’s, yours, your partner’s or the family’s pet?
• Did your concern for a pet’s welfare keep you from coming to a shelter sooner than now? If yes, explain
• Did you leave the abusive partner because of the abuse of a pet? If yes, describe
What can advocates do to raise awareness about the connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence in their communities?
• Take animal abuse seriously
• Contact their counterparts in other agencies
• Develop cross-training and cross-reporting among animal welfare, domestic violence, child abuse and other related agencies
• Support strong anti-cruelty laws
• Develop community anti-violence coalitions
• Develop community based programs to promote empathy and humane education
• Encourage research on the connection
• Work with local animal shelters, veterinarians, veterinary schools and boarding kennels to develop emergency housing programs for pets
• Collect data in their own agencies
• Add questions to intake forms about animal cruelty
What is being done?
In many communities, human services, animal services and law enforcement agencies are sharing resources and expertise to address violence. Professionals are beginning to engage in cross training and cross-reporting through inter-agency partnerships. Humane societies are also teaming with domestic violence shelters to provide emergency shelter for pets of domestic violence victims..
In addition, some states have strengthened their animal-cruelty legislation and have taken other measures to address The Link. These state-level actions permit earlier intervention and send a clear message that all forms of violence are taken seriously.. Such examples are:
• There are now felony-level penalties for animal cruelty in nearly all states
• Several states require veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse and offer veterinarians who report cruelty immunity from civil and criminal liability
• Some states require animal control officers to report suspected child abuse or neglect and receive training in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect
• A few states permit child and adult protection workers to report suspected animal abuse or receive training on identifying and reporting animal cruelty, abuse and neglect
• Nearly half the states call for psychological counseling for individuals convicted of animal cruelty
Animal cruelty and family violence are closely, if not, completely linked. Victims of such cruelty are vulnerable and frightened, but unlike battered spouses and children, animals do not have a voice to cry out against the abuse. Animals cannot tell anyone about what is happening to them and they cannot cry out for help..
If you suspect animal abuse, as well as child and/or family abuse, please report it immediately to your local authorities. Abused children and adults have a voice that can end their abuse and put their abusers in prison, but animals are voiceless and therefore, cannot put an end to their suffering. Please be their voice. Help end this painful cycle of violence and suffering. Please help save these animals from anyone who would want to harm them.. If not you, who? If not now, when?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we will respond as soon as we are able
Support animal rights
-Olivia
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