What is The Link?

Animal abuse, cruelty and neglect are often considered isolated incidents wholly separated from family violence. Today, professionals involved with victims of family violence are not surprised when they learn that often these acts are linked. They no longer excuse animal cruelty as “boys will be boys” or “it was only a cat.” Instead, they see animal abuse as “the tip of the iceberg” and often the first sign of other family and community violence.

Intentional abuse in any form should be taken seriously. Knowing that there is a link, the agencies involved in preventing family violence need to work together for a more effective response.

How are they linked?

Domestic violence and child abusers may kill, harm or threaten animals to exert dominance and power over their victims and to show them what could happen to them. In this way, animal abuse silences domestic violence and sexual abuse victims, and prevents them from leaving violent relationships. Killing a family pet eliminates a source of comfort and support for the victim.

When children are cruel to animals it is not necessarily an exploratory stage of development; it could be the earliest stages of conduct disorder, a gang initiation ritual, an act of revenge, peer pressure, or a way for an abused child who feels powerless to exert control over his or her own victim and gain a sense of power. Exposing children to animal cruelty may desensitize them against all forms of violence.

Senior citizens in particular may be at risk of not being able to care for their animals adequately, of neglecting themselves in order to care for their pets, of being exploited by those who would take advantage of their attachment to pets, or of keeping too many animals in inhumane hoarding conditions.

What are the effects of animal abuse?

In addition to causing pain and suffering to the animals, animal abuse can be an early ”red flag” warning sign of the likelihood of future violent acts. Abusers and impressionable children who witness or perpetrate abuse become desensitized to violence and the ability to empathize with victims. Abuse is often cyclical, and the earlier professionals can intervene to break the cycles of violence, the higher the rate of success.

Why should human services professionals pay attention to animal abuse?

Victims are often reluctant to talk about abuse that has been directed at them, but they may be more comfortable talking about abuse to their pets, which can then lead into talking about their own abuse. Neighbors are more likely to report suspected animal abuse than child welfare, domestic violence or elder abuse cases, thereby making their local humane society, SPCA or animal services agency a “first responder” and the first point of contact for a family in crisis. Children who talk about having many pets that died or disappeared may be trying to say that their pets have been killed or abused, and further investigation is necessary. Abusers do not see animal abuse as a serious crime and may admit to animal abuse but not to family violence. Professionals in law enforcement, social service agencies, teachers, clergy, medical professionals and the courts should recognize animal abuse as a potential link in their work and partner with animal welfare agencies in concerted, collaborative prevention and intervention programs.

What can we do?

The National Link Coalition is working on the local, national and international levels to educate the public about The Link, to train professionals in many disciplines about how this information can help them and their clients, and to help communities organize and sustain coalitions in which organizations from multiple disciplines work together to address family violence in all its forms. While each coalition is unique, they share three goals in common:

1. Prevention

Through educational programming and public awareness about The Link, these groups try to intervene before violence begins or escalates. Humane education in schools and in-service training to professionals build awareness and help develop effective organizational strategies.

2. Intervention

Women’s shelters are forging partnerships with animal welfare groups to provide foster care for the animal victims of domestic violence, thereby enabling battered women, children and pets to leave abusive relationships earlier, and many pioneering shelters are building animal kennels within the shelters themselves. Many states now allow judges to include pets in protection-from-abuse orders.

Children who are at risk of antisocial behaviors and juvenile offenders are getting therapeutic opportunities to interact with animals in a positive manner through pet training programs that help homeless animals and teach youths about empathy and non-violent confrontation skills. Animal-assisted therapy programs are comforting child abuse victims during difficult forensic examinations and courtroom testimony.

Veterinarians are receiving training to recognize the diagnostic signs of animal abuse, cruelty and neglect, using the “CSI”-type forensics that have long been part of human medicine.

State laws against animal cruelty have been toughened. Other new laws encourage or require professionals in several disciplines to report suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities without fear of civil or criminal liability.

3. Cross-Reporting

Awareness of the link is encouraging many agencies to seek cross-training so they may build local networks and report suspected animal abuse, knowing that they may also be preventing other forms of violence. The National Link Coalition encourages professionals working with victims of abuse to include questions about the presence and welfare of animals whenever conducting interviews, intakes or assessments. When any form of family violence is suspected, the appropriate agency should be informed so its experienced personnel can evaluate whether a further investigation is warranted.

The National Link Coalition has a cadre of speakers who can provide workshops and training to a variety of disciplines. Contact us for more details.

You can help!

Animal abuse is now recognized as part of a continuum of violence with serious implications for multiple victims and society. Acknowledging the Link between animal abuse and family violence provides professionals with an important tool. By working together, professional and public awareness will be raised which, in turn, will lead to safer and healthier communities and more effective programs.