Sometimes the family dog is the first to know.
“It’s not safe here”…
Dogs and other pets are often the first victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence victims sometimes remain in an abusive situation rather than leave a beloved pet in danger.
Why should we care about the pet ? Our welfare and that of our animal companion are interdependent.The safest community is one where everyone is protected. Pet abuse is an early warning sign of human violence.
Animal abuse and cruelty are not isolated crimes. Animal abuse is linked to human violence. Like a canary providing early warning of danger in a coal mine, animal cruelty may serve as an early warning sign of other trouble in the home. It’s a sign that the weakest, most defenseless members are not safe.
How a community or a family treats its animals is an indication of how it treats its weakest, most defenseless members. Animal abuse hurts innocent victims. Children suffer when they witness pet abuse and cruelty. Animals, children, and adults all suffer when cruelty exists. Families suffer when pets and their human family undergo forced separations.
The LINK
A number of studies have shown a link between animal abuse and human violence.The Humane Society of the United States (2008) First Strike: The Violence Connection publication reports numerous studies that document the link between animal abuse and human violence. Researchers have found that between 71% and 83% of women entering domestic violence shelters reported that their partners also abused or killed the family pet.
The discovery of animal abuse may be the first chance to provide early intervention to at risk children and youth, which in turn can act to prevent the cycle of violence continuing.
How can communities help?
1) We can help stop the cycle of violence by recognizing that animal abuse may be an indicator of other problems.
2) Reporting animal abuse can help authorities stop other types of violence and can help identify where mental health intervention is needed before violence escalates.
3) We can encourage mental health professionals and local law enforcement to consider animal cruelty as a warning sign for human violence and provide early mental health intervention.
4)We can recognize pet abuse and cruelty as a family and domestic violence dynamic, and work together as communities to protect pets and victims of domestic violence .
5)!Reporting animal abuse is the first step necessary in the system to investigate and prosecute animal abusers .Do you see something? Say something. Reporting animal abuse can help authorities stop other types of violence.
6) Early prevention and intervention for animal abusers is an important step in preventing the cycle of human violence.
7) Cross reporting and coordinated coalitions of agencies such as animal control officers, law enforcement and mental health professionals working together are creating ways for communities to provide early intervention that help prevent the cycle of violence. Community cooperation to address pet abuse integrates identification, enforcement, and intervention.Several states have cross-reporting laws, which require reporting of suspected cases of animal abuse to animal control officials.
8)We can raise awareness of the complexity of the human animal bond in animals and humans experiencing crises together and support the bond to help both animals and humans.
The degree to which animal abuse may serve as an early warning sign for other violence should be added incentive for our communities to examine and intervene in cases of animal cruelty, neglect and abuse. Reporting, investigating, and prosecuting animal abusers along with early prevention and intervention for animal abusers is an important step in preventing the cycle of human violence. Supporting the human animal bond in people and pets experiencing crises helps people and animals.
http://m.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/abuse/first_strike.pdf
http://www.humanesociety.org/violence connection
This post was previously published on The Daily Junior Blog April 1, 2015 .
