Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
last updated August 2013
 
Violence against animals has been found to occur where there is also violence against female intimate partners (both in heterosexual and same-sex couples), children, and siblings.[1]  A battered pet may be a sign that other types of violence are occurring in the family.[2]  In fact, the relationship between animal abuse, domestic abuse and interpersonal violence is often referred to as the “tangled web of abuse.”[3] Studies reveal that a significant proportion of abuse victims (71%) report that their batterer has also abused an animal.[4] 
  
Studies suggest that animal abuse may be an indication of more serious forms of interpersonal abuse.[5] And, especially in light of the fact that animal abuse is a criterion used in the diagnosis of conduct disorder among children and adolescents, animal abuse among adults may prove an important factor through which to predict co-occurrence of interpersonal violence.[6]  
 
The Relationship between Animal and Interpersonal Abuse
Batterers may use animal abuse as a means of terrorizing and controlling their families, especially when a victim exhibits a strong emotional attachment to her pet.[7]  Where a close bond exists between a pet and battered spouse, harm or threat of harm to the pet can be used to control, intimidate, coerce and silence the victim.[8] 
 
Women seeking refuge at shelters due to violent relationships report their pets provided an important source of emotional support and companionship as they dealt with abuse. Many battered women also described forming bonds with companion animals that were similarly victimized.[9]  
 
 
Effects of Animal Abuse on Victims of Abuse
In addition to experiencing trauma as a result of witnessing threats to or abuse of a pet, studies show that many women delay leaving an abusive situation out of concern for their pet's safety.  Once they have left the relationship, some victims may return out of concern for their pet.[10] Further, many children who have witnessed abuse of a pet at the hands of a batterer have also abused a pet themselves, potentially indicating a cyclical effect.[11] 
 
For many reasons, women’s shelters have not traditionally allowed pets to stay in shelters with their owners.  In addition to causing many women to delay seeking shelter, this causes women who leave their pet behind to risk the welfare of their pet, lose the emotional support provided by their pet, and experience guilt regarding their inability to help their pet.[12] Shelters are beginning to amend this policy and many in the United States now accept pets or arrange for safe boarding of pets at a kennel.
 
Laws Governing Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
In most foreign and domestic jurisdictions, laws enacted to protect victims of domestic violence, child abuse and animal abuse are located within separate sections of the criminal code. However, in 25 U.S. states, statutes have been enacted allowing courts to include pets in protective orders[13] and seven states include acts of animal abuse in the statutory definition of domestic violence.[14] 
 
Cross-reporting of domestic, child, and animal abuse is an important step that can be taken to address these often interrelated forms of violence,[15] yet as of September 2013, only 13 U.S. states (including the District of Columbia) had enacted legislation requiring animal protection workers to cross-report abuse of a child or adult.[16]  
 
Australia
Though the federal domestic violence legislation of Australia does not refer specifically to abuse of animals in connection with domestic violence, five of eight Australian states and territories explicitly include abuse of an animal within the definition of domestic abuse (see Western Australia Restraining Orders Act 1997, § 6(1)(c); Victoria Family Violence Protection Act 2008, § 5(2)(e); South Australia Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009, § 8(4)(d) (uncommenced); Northern Territory of Australia Domestic and Family Violence Act 2009, §§ 5(b), 6(1)(b)(ii); Australian Capital Territory Domestic Violence and Protection Orders Act 2008, § 13(1)(f)&(g)). 
 
Further, Queensland empowers the court to remove from an abuser’s possession a “thing,” defined to include an animal or pet, which has been used or has been threatened to be used in committing an act of domestic violence.[17] Similarly, the Northern Territory statute allows a police officer to remove and detain a person in order to prevent harm to an animal, framing the issue as one of preventing damage to property.[18] 
 
Minnesota, United States
In May 2010, Minnesota’s Domestic Abuse Act (see M.S.A. § 518B.01) was amended to include animal protection. Courts may now grant relief, including in the form of an ex parte order (an order that may be made without the presence of the other party), to victims of abuse by directing the care, possession or control of a pet or companion animal and by issuing protective orders to prevent these animals from being abused or injured “as an indirect means of intentionally threatening the safety” of the victim.[19] Baltimore,
 
Maryland, United States
After a high-profile 2009 animal cruelty case, the Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, initiated an Anti-Animal Abuse Task Force, charged with exploring issues of animal cruelty in greater depth and making recommendations based upon these findings. According to the 2011 Report of the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, the Maryland General Assembly accepted recommendations of the Task Force and passed a bill providing protections for animals in cases of domestic violence.[20]

Advocacy
Advocacy Techniques[21]
  • Modification of intake surveys to include questions about animal abuse (in some cases, abusing an animal may carry a stricter penalty than domestic violence);
  • Cross-training across fields to enable better communication and data collection; 
  • Expansion of animal shelter services to provide homes for animals within shelters and through collaborations with volunteers and animal shelters, allowing battered women to leave abusive situations without fearing for a pet’s safety;
  • Legislative advocacy to amend and coordinate child abuse and animal cruelty reporting laws, and extend custody and protective orders to include animals; and 
  • Research and education to better understand the link between domestic violence and animal abuse and inform those experiencing or working with those who experience domestic violence and animal abuse.

Organizations
  • The American Humane Association provides excellent training materials and resources for services, including the Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS TM) Program (helping shelters develop capacity to keep pets on-site), a national resource center (providing training and speaker resources), and information on relevant legislation. www.americanhumane.org
  • The National Link Coalition is a coalition of authorities, advocates, and researchers from disciples of animal protection, domestic violence, child welfare, and elder abuse work together to build awareness of the link that exists between these forms of violence. http://nationallinkcoalition.org/
  • The Humane Society of the United States provides a nationwide directory of Safe Havens for AnimalsTM shelters that will accept pets of those fleeing domestic violence. www.hsus.org. 
  • The Linkage Project is state-based organization dedicated to raising awareness about the link between animal abuse and human violence, and training human and animal welfare workers and law enforcement in the state of Maine. www.linkageproject.org.
 
Resources
The Animal Legal & Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law provides information on the link between domestic violence and animal abuse and current state laws.
 
Frank R. Ascione, “Safe Havens for Pets: Guidelines for Programs Sheltering Pets for Women who are Battered,” (2000), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/ascione_safe_havens.pdf.

The Bibliography of the Link Between Animal Abuse, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Elder Abuse, compiled by Phil Arkow, last modified June 26, 2013, and available at http://www.animaltherapy.net/Bibliography-Link.html, provides an up-to-date list of research materials on the topic.

The Society & Animals Forum’s “Beyond Violence” project focuses on the link between violence against animals and humans and the site is a good source of articles on the topic. http://www.societyandanimalsforum.org/beyond_violence.html.





[1] C. Flynn, “Battered Women and Their Animal Companions: Symbolic Interaction Between Human and Non-Human Animals,” Society & Animals Vol. 8, No. 2, at 99-127 (2000), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.animalsandsociety.org/assets/library/411_s821.pdf.
[2] Ascione, F.R et al. The Abuse of Animals and Domestic Violence: A National Survey of Shelters for Women who are Battered, Society and Animals Vol. 5, No. 3, at 205-218 (1997), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.societyandanimalsforum.org/sa/sa5.3/Ascione.html.
[3] C.A. Faver and E.B. Strand, “Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty: Untangling the Web of Abuse,” Journal of Social Work Education, Vol. 39, No. 2 (Spring/summer 2003). 
[4] Anne M. Volant, et al., “The Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: An Australian Study,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol.23, No. 9, at 1277-1295 (2008); “Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence,” American Humane Association, accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html.
[5] Catherine A. Simmons and Peter Lehmann, “Exploring the Link Between Pet Abuse and Controlling Behaviors in Violent Relationships,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 22, No. 9, at 1211-1222 (2007). 
[6] Anne M. Volant, et al. “The Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: An Australian Study,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol.23, No. 9, at 1277-1295 (2008).
[7] C. Flynn, “Battered Women and Their Animal Companions: Symbolic Interaction Between Human and Non-Human Animals,” Society & Animals Vol. 8, No. 2, at 99-127 (2000), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.animalsandsociety.org/assets/library/411_s821.pdf.
[8] C. Flynn, “Woman’s Best Friend: Pet Abuse and the Role of Companion Animals in the Lives of Battered Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 6, at 162-177 (2000).
[9] C. Flynn, “Battered Women and Their Animal Companions: Symbolic Interaction Between Human and Non-Human Animals,” Society & Animals Vol. 8, No. 2, at 99-127 (2000), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.animalsandsociety.org/assets/library/411_s821.pdf.
[10] C. Flynn, “Woman’s Best Friend: Pet Abuse and the Role of Companion Animals in the Lives of Battered Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 6, at 162-177 (2000). 
[11] F.R. Ascione, et al. “Battered Pets and Domestic Violence: Animal Abuse Reported by Women Experiencing Intimate Violence and by Nonabused Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 13, at 354-373 (2007).
[12] C. Flynn, “Woman’s Best Friend: Pet Abuse and the Role of Companion Animals in the Lives of Battered Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 6, at 162-177 (2000).
[13]Rebecca F. Wisch, Domestic Violence and Pets: List of States that Include Pest in Protective Orders (2013), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusdomesticviolencelaws.htm; Phil Arkow, Pets in Protection Orders by State (2013), accessed July 1, 2013, http://nationallinkcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/PPO-Summary-by-State-2-2013.pdf.
[14] National Link Coalition, State Statute in Which Acts of Animal Abuse Constitute Acts of Domestic Violence,(2013), accessed July 1, 2013, http://nationallinkcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DV-CTA-as-definition-of-DV.pdf; Emily. Ridge, Protecting Animals: Domestic Abuse and Animal Abuse Linked (2008), accessed July 1, 2013, http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdomesticviolence.htm.
[15] C. Flynn, “Woman’s Best Friend: Pet Abuse and the Role of Companion Animals in the Lives of Battered Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 6, at 162-177 (2000).
[16] “State Summary Report Card: Cross-Reporting of Animal and Child Abuse,” AVMA, last modified June 2011, https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-animal-abuse-cross-reporting.aspx.
[19] Sections 4 and 5 of Chapter 299, Minnesota Session Laws.
[20] 2011 Report of the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, 8 (2012), accessed August 6, 2013, http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Portals/0/agencies/anti-animalabuse/public%20downloads/2011%20Anti%20Animal%20Abuse%20Commission%20Report.pdf.
[21] C. Flynn, “Woman’s Best Friend: Pet Abuse and the Role of Companion Animals in the Lives of Battered Women,” Violence Against Women Vol. 6, at 162-177 (2000).