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Understanding The Link Between Animal Abuse and Family Violence
What is the Link?
A correlation between animal abuse, family violence, and other forms of community
violence has been established. Child and animal protection professionals have
recognized this Link, noting 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.
How serious is it?
A survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child abuse and neglect found
that animals were abused in 88% of homes where child physical abuse was present
(DeViney, Dickert, & Lockwood, 1983). A study of women seeking shelter at a safe
house showed that 71% of those having pets affirmed that their partner had threatened,
hurt, or killed their companion animals, and 32% of mothers reported that their
children had hurt or killed their pets (Ascione, 1998). 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 (Merz-Perez, Heide, & Silverman, 2001).
What's 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 interagency partnerships, and
humane societies are 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 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.
For example:
- 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.
American Humane Association and the Violence Link Task Force of Manasota asserts
that the Link must be addressed and the following provisions must be implemented:
- Cross-training and cross-reporting among law enforcement officers, humane investigators,
veterinarians, health professionals, domestic violence advocates, and child protection workers;
- Training and continuing education about the Link for judges and prosecutors;
- Model legislation for cross-reporting and cross-reporting standards;
- Systematic tracking of national animal abuse data;
- Expanded research about the Link, including evaluation of prevention and intervention
approaches;
- Inclusion of animal-focused violence in standard assessments and intake forms for child
protective services, mental health, and domestic violence workers; and
- Community partnerships to respond to family violence and educate the public about taking
all acts of violence seriously.
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