Children and Animal Cruelty

Each year, thousands of pets will be the victims of domestic abuse. And people who abuse animals rarely stop there. Human victims—adults and children—often feel they have no choice but to remain in violent households in order to avoid harm to their pets.

This year, American Humane, an organization committed to the protection of children and animals, met with leaders in community action, domestic violence prevention, and other animal protection groups to shed light on the link between animal abuse and domestic violence.

Violence toward people and animals is a well-established link.

Abuse of both animals and children can be a self-perpetuating cycle—one that has become a national concern.

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.

In one study, 88 percent of 57 families being treated for incidents of child abuse also abused animals. Of 38 women seeking shelter at a safe house, 74 percent reported having a pet, and 71 percent reported that their pet had been threatened or harmed—one third of the time by the children. Children often use their pets as a scapegoat for their anger.

Taking measures to help pets and families.

In Maine, Governor John Balducci signed a new law on April 25 which amends the Animal Welfare Act to include neglect and domestic violence as crimes against animals.

In New Jersey, lawmakers have introduced a bill which would make it a crime to commit animal cruelty, abandonment, or animal fighting in the presence of a child.

The state of Georgia now requires potential adoptive or foster parents with pets to list the name and species of each pet. They are also given a foster parent manual that covers how children can be safe around dogs.

In addition:

• Nearly all states now have felony-level penalties for animal cruelty.
• Several states require veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse and offer immunity from civil and criminal liability to those who report cruelty.
• Some states require animal control officers to report suspected child abuse or neglect and receive training in how to do so.
• A few states permit child and adult protection workers to report suspected animal abuse or receive training on identifying and reporting animal cruelty.
• Nearly half the states call for psychological counseling for individuals convicted of animal cruelty.

 More and more research has revealed that acts of cruelty to animals often lead to acts of cruelty to children and other people. American Humane, along with their supporters, hopes to elevate the plight of children and animals in domestic violence situations.

Copyright by American Humane