Animal Abuse Linked to Domestic Violence

Animal Abuse Linked to Domestic Violence

By D. S. Mitchell and Michael Leonard Douglas

Links to animal cruelty and  family abuse

The link between animal cruelty and domestic violence is clear if we are willing to look at the evidence. Domestic abuse is not usually just an attack on one household member. The abusers target animals too. Most domestic animals that are mistreated are part of a paradigm of abuse. A study by the Animal Welfare Institute confirmed there is a connection between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic partner abuse.

Statistics are eye-opening

A study by The Animal Welfare Institute measured a strong connection between animal cruelty, child abuse, and non-ending domestic violence. According to their study, up to 72% of abused women reported a similar, if not brutal, abuse of their pets by their spouse or partner. The study shows that not only were the animals abused, but often killed in the process. In a similar study conducted nationwide, a staggering 84% of the people who reported domestic abuse also claimed that their pets were abused or brutally injured.

Animal Welfare Institute

Statistically there is a direct link between domestic violence and animal cruelty. The connection of these women (occasionally men) to their pets was found to be so strong that up to 49% of those reporting abuses chose to stay in the environment to protect their pets. These are shocking numbers and should be of great social concern. But is knowledge enough to turn social concern into social policy that safeguards both animal and human rights? A question not answered by the study was, is the cruelty toward the animals a characteristic trait of the abuser, or is it related to the human target of abuse and their relationship with the abused animal?

Conclusion

I don’t know how we can fix this problem without doing lobotomies on all domestic violence offenders; an unrealistic proposal, I admit. So, friends I’m able to tell you there is a problem that has huge consequences on society, but I have no answer on what to do about it. I apologize but I’ll have to turn the problem over to those more educated than I am.