Public Awareness

OPDV Bulletin:
Building Alliances to Safeguard Animals and People

By Susan Urban


Since I left New York City government and went to work at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA), I have heard many stories, just as you have in your work. In my case there was the story of one little girl receiving non-residential services who could only talk about how her daddy threw her cat against the bedroom wall and killed it. A woman told me about her husband who shot and killed the children's cocker spaniel (the children were told it had "run away" and only later, when the mother left him, did he cruelly let them know what he had really done). There was the story about the pet goldfish that were put in a skillet and fried, while the children were made to watch. Through these and many other stories, I have learned that there is a strong link between animal cruelty and domestic violence and have come to believe that we must forge a strong alliance between organizations dealing with domestic violence and other kinds of abuse and those concerned with animal welfare.


Introduction


The time has come for wider recognition of the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence and broader incorporation of this knowledge into practice. Since the late 1980s, domestic violence advocates have begun to work with child welfare advocates, examining how their two areas of concern overlap and are connected to each other. Collaboration has often been slow and difficult, even painful. It has required each group to widen their vision of domestic violence and its consequences. All involved in this work agree that the struggle for collaboration must continue in order to reach the goal of safety with as little emotional and physical damage as possible for both adult survivors and their children.


It is time to once again widen our vision by including non-human animals in our domestic violence work. These may be companion animals in the home or farm animals in the family's care. Doing a thorough assessment for current or past animal cruelty in every household will allow us to both work toward ending animal suffering and give us valuable information that can be used in understanding the level of violence and risk in the home. This will enhance victim safety. In addition, the criminal justice system can apply animal cruelty charges where appropriate, increasing the chances of perpetrator accountability.


Violence in the household affects the animals along a continuum. Note the similarities with how the children are affected in a family with domestic violence:


  • At the least, dogs and cats will feel the atmosphere of tension, fear and conflict, which may cause fearful, anxious or guarding behavior.
  • The animal is often neglected and deprived of adequate food, shelter, water, and/or medical care if the perpetrator controls the family's resources.
  • The animal may be taken away and abandoned, or taken to a vet or animal control facility for euthanasia.
  • The animal may be caught up in the erupting violence and injured accidentally.
  • The perpetrator may deliberately target the animal for torture, injury or death to intimidate, control, or silence other family members.
  • The animal may attempt to protect those under attack, triggering an assault against it.
  • The victim may deliberately put the companion animal in the perpetrator's path to deflect him from the children or herself.
  • Both adult and child victims may engage in "pecking order" battering, picking on those more vulnerable than themselves.
  • The animal may be sexually abused by the perpetrator, who may also coerce the adult or child victims to have sex with the animal(s).

Animal Cruelty Laws


Every state now makes animal cruelty a statutory offense. New York State embodies these laws under Article 26 of the Agricultural and Markets Law, not the Criminal Code. This means that police officers and court personnel may not be familiar with the law and advocates may need to educate them. Most crimes against animals are misdemeanors, but New York State does make it a felony if a companion animal is killed in an intentional and unjustifiable manner, or if a serious physical injury is caused by conduct that is carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.


"In most cases, the animal that is abused in a domestic violence household is hurt to crush the spirit of family members or terrify them into silence."


Universal Assessment


Each family member should be asked about animals in the household during the initial assessment. 65% to 75% of American families with children own companion animals, so you can expect many clients to respond, "yes" to an initial question about the presence of animals in the home.


It is important to ask about the presence of pets in the past, as the animals may have been killed or abandoned and, therefore are no longer present in the home. This history may allow the advocate a more comprehensive understanding of the extent and duration of the violence.


Perpetrators may readily admit to some forms of animal cruelty because of the "non-importance" of the crime in the law and society's eyes.


Victims of domestic violence may be ambivalent or reluctant about leaving home or anxious to return once they have left, because they worry about the animal's safety. The animal left behind with the abuser may be in grave danger-and may be threatened or hurt to persuade the victim to return home. (In one case, the perpetrator took pictures of the victim's dog after he had cut off its ears, and sent the pictures to the victim's mother.) The client's behavior may seem inexplicable or irrational if these dynamics are going on without the advocate's awareness.


Assessment of the child should include her/his relationship to pets past and present, as well as an understanding of what cruelty the child has witnessed. Be alert that some children respond to sexual abuse or domestic violence by repeating the violence. The pet will often be the target of this behavior. In some cases, the child, may harm the animal that has been repeatedly threatened in an attempt to end the animal's suffering.


Children's attachments to their pets are often intensified when they live with an abuser. The injury of that pet will be especially traumatic to the child.


Risk


Animal Cruelty is a significant part of the puzzle in assessing risk and dangerousness in domestic violence. All practitioners should question adults and children about the well being of the family's current or past pets. A leading psychologist in the field, Dr. Randall Lockwood, has compiled a list of 33 risk factors to assess dangerousness in perpetrators of animal cruelty. (See Sidebar). Knowledge gained from a detailed examination of the violence against the animal(s) is useful both to those in the criminal justice system and to domestic violence advocates in assessing risk of dangerousness and aiding with subsequent safety planning.


Safety Planning


Safety planning for someone being abused involves assessing the level of danger that exists and then creating a plan to facilitate the well being and survival of the non-abusive family members. Advocates frequently work with women and children to do safety planning. It is important that safety planning also include the companion animals in the household. Victims may refuse to leave home without a plan for their pets, or the pets may be at increased risk of harm if left with the abuser after the survivor of the abuse has fled. Planning for what to do with the animals must be carefully done so as not to forewarn the perpetrator of plans to leave.


A Word About Adoption


See if your community has a foster care program for the companion animals of domestic violence victims. Most domestic violence shelters will not let you bring your animal(s) with you, and dog-friendly housing may be difficult to obtain.


Give some thought to surrendering your animal for adoption if your pet faces months of separation from you and is not kept in a situation that is good for her/him. While you may be particularly close to your companion animal, some consideration must be given to what is best for the animal, as well as for you.


Humane Education


Humane Education is widely recognized to be useful in raising children who are empathetic and kind. In New York State, Humane Education must be included in public school education. To help with the overwhelming feelings many children of domestic violence victims experience, they may particularly benefit by the inclusion of Humane Education activities in children's programming. Work using therapy animals should be considered.


The ASPCA, through its Children's Book Awards, selects books that best portray the Humane Education point of view. Award winners and runners-up may be seen on the ASPCA website.


Conclusion


Universal assessment and safety planning are necessary with all families who are being abused. Humane education should be part of all children's programming. Beyond this, building alliances with animal welfare organizations and Humane Law Enforcement officers will benefit clients as well as animals.


Family VISION is the ASPCA initiative to educate human service professionals about the Link between animal cruelty and human violence. Fur further information, please contact Susan Urban, (212) 876-7700 Ext. 4353 or e-mail her at susanu@aspca.org. Susan is also available for presentations.


A MESSAGE FOR VICTIMS


  1. If the companion animal is hurt or seriously threatened, it may be a sign that the people in the home are in danger and should therefore be taken seriously. A call to the local humane law enforcement agency should be made.
  2. Think about what you will do with your companion animal as you are planning how to keep yourself safe. Make arrangements with friends, family or a boarding kennel if possible for alternate care.
  3. Be sure to tell your pet's emergency caretaker to keep your pet's location a secret from anyone who might tell your partner.
  4. Gather documents to prove that the pet is yours to minimize custody disputes, keeping in mind that pets are considered property. These records may include proof you paid for an animal license, proof of vaccinations, and receipts or a letter from your animal's veterinarian, as well as statements from those who know the animal to be yours.
  5. Attempt to get the animal(s) in question added to your petition for an Order of Protection, especially if the animal has been injured or threatened.
  6. If you are making plans to leave, think about keeping pet items together in a safe place (vaccination and medical records, a collar and ID tags, pet carrier, leash, medications, favorite toys, etc.)
  7. If you must leave the animal behind, do not go back without a police officer to reclaim the pet. Bring evidence to demonstrate that the animal is yours and a copy of the Order of Protection.