Library: Abuse

Link between Animal and Child Abuse

American Humane has completed a study establishing a link between animal cruelty and human violence.

E.g., in NJ, 88% of families where physical abuse occurred, animal abuse also occurred. In about 1/3 of these homes, the animal was killed as a threat/manipulation of the child. Finding that the sexual abuser threatens to kill the pet if the child speaks up – threat to silence the child.

California and Colorado  make animal control officers mandated reporters for child abuse.

Violent and deliberate acts of animal abuse link to human violence. Among all the recent school shooting cases – there was an earlier history of animal abuse. Animal abuse is already a diagnostic criteria for personality disorder. Serious animal abuse can be a risk factor for juvenile delinquency. Systems may now take animal abuse more seriously.

http://www.abanet.org/child/8-4tip.html