Animal cruelty as well as domestic violence connection
In recent studies conducted particularly by psychologists, the association domestic violence has with animal cruelty forms a research topic of interest. This has resulted in a situation whereby several communities have come up with coalitions of organizations catering for animal welfare as well as human service. These organizations normally address connections in animal abuse, woman battering as well as child maltreatment.
“Even with the recognition of the association in existence, the aspect regarding the contribution animals have in domestic violence still continues to be ignored. It is found out that in order to succeed in promoting the welfare of human beings, it is of significant importance that predicament of animals is also put into consideration” (Ascione, Weber & Wood, 1997).
The reasons for considering this particular association include recognition to the effect that natural environment has on welfare of human beings. “It occurs that animals are constituent parts of natural environment as well as home environments where human beings live. This implies that animals’ welfare has a considerable association with that of human beings since in reality they tend to be companions” (Arkow, 1999).
“There is also a recognized association in the contribution the bond between humans and their pets has to humans’ health since individuals who have a passion for pets have been found to suffer anguish after losing their loving pets” (French & Becker, 2004).
In several other situations, animals are found to be used in psychological therapies and have worked accordingly particularly when dealing with the elderly. In this case, it occurs that “women have a stronger bond with animals hence the reason as to why batterers beat animals up in order to intimidate them and also cultivate some control” (French & Becker, 2004). That is, by showing cruelty to animals especially pets that these women treasure, batterers tend to pass a message to women that they are actually in control and everything else is under their control including the animals in the surrounding.
An extensive research on this particular association of domestic violence with animal cruelty shows that considerable animal abuse has been found to take place in homesteads whereby children as well as women experience physical or even sexual abuse. When this link is encountered, it is considered to complete a rather tangled web which calls for social workers’ intervention.
A more specific research study conducted within New Jersey reveals that women have confessed that in at least four of about five instances whereby abuse partners have shown violence to them, the same partners have also been shown violence to animals including livestock as well as pets. It is found out that “intentional abuse directed to animals has been associated with several other crimes including gang activity, sexual assault, drug offenses, weapons violations as well as domestic violence” (Piper, 2003).
In this particular study, several other reasons as to why animals were battered by abusers including the enforcement of submission in cases where their partners tend to show some level of persistence. More so, “when an abuser batters a victim he/she tends to develop fear which in turn prevents one to leave or even return to the unsafe environment” (Strand & Faver, 2003).
Women who have secured themselves some level of independence are major targets of domestic violence with the impact being punishment for portraying their independence in situations whereby the man wants to be the one looked upon for livelihood. “Batterers who are mostly men also abuse animals in order to develop a gap and finally isolate women from their children as its made clear that she will not be rescued even if she decides take refuge in children” (Flynn, 1999).
It occurs that law enforcers have a considerable responsibility in issues associated with enforcing security regarding humans as well as animals’ welfare. In situations whereby response is being accorded to domestic violence it is found necessary to take note of the possibility of children as well as pets suffering victimization.
In such instances, if proper safety precautions are put in place, children tend to be appropriate sources of required information as they tend be more ready to provide and discuss cruelty exerted to pets compared what was done to them.
In such a situation there are some proposed questions that law enforcers need to apply in their investigations undertakings. Children may be asked whether they own any kind of pets or whether there is anyone who has being threatening or even battering their pets. An investigator may also probe for more information by asking the children if they would consider requiring assistance in securing somewhere safe to keep their pets in case they happen to leave for safety.
In addition to taking note of instances whereby pets and animals in general are maltreated, “it is of great importance to ensure that judges upgrade their legal practice in order to include the procedure of ruling cases regarding pets. Judges are also expected to know the necessity of information concerning animal cruelty in that it is so much connected with domestic violence” (ZAiontz, 2008).
Studies have also found out that instances whereby domestic violence have culminated inn serial killings, the offenders may have used animals to rehearse for the incident. This rehearsal does not only occur in adulthood but also early in life during adolescence which makes it necessary that this category of adolescents is dealt with accordingly in order to avoid worse consequences during adulthood.
Veterinaries have continued to play a considerable role in pointing out abusers and ensuring that they are reported to agencies dealing with human rights. In such instances, veterinaries are considering pointing out warnings in pets. For instance, they tend to find interest of situations whereby pets or generally animals do not live to maturity and die very young. This shows that something might be amiss in that these pets may have encountered neglect to a point of death or could have been directly killed.
Another sign whereby animal cruelty may be associated with domestic violence is a situation whereby injuries experienced by pets tend not to relate with a story given by the owner. This implies that the pet must have been harmed out of anger which is not associated with the pet’s mistake but that of another person debar to the pet.
It occurs that the attachment of pets with children as well as women is so strong such that it becomes difficult for them to leave their homesteads when threatened as they fear leaving their pets in an unsafe environment. This is particularly due to the fact that women shelters tend not to give shelter to pets but only give consideration to women together with their children.
This situation where people in danger hesitate fleeing for the sake of their dear pets has made several experts to urge animal shelters as well as veterinary hospitals to ensure that they offer temporary homes to pets where they can be left by abused individuals as they proceed to their specific shelters.
Although this looks like a very minor issue, it is very important as it can in turn reduce further suffering from domestic violence as the victims can have no excuse for not leaving the dangerous environment for a safer one. “Vulnerable individuals who are mostly women are also urged to ensure that they take immediate steps when they find their partners harming pets in whichever manner” (Linzey, 2009). If such instances occur, they are advised to consider informing the police and filling a report which is to serve as evidence that the woman as well as the children are in danger.
In some cases, “such occurrence is capable of leading to criminal charges for endangering the lives of animals around and people in the surrounding as the association is considerable strong” (Danis, 2004). This very evidence can also come in handy in instances whereby a victim may be requiring compensation for covering loss related to abuse actions by a partner.
In order for one to win in such cases, it is important for the one owning the pet to ensure that vet bills for the pets incurred when hurt are kept safely to be provided for evidence in court. This way, an offender will not find it easy when facing trial of battering a woman together with children and their pets. More so, “the abuser may be sued for causing someone to suffer emotional distress much later after the incident occurring and pet bills may serve as evidence that domestic violence took place or was about to occur” (Heide & Perez, 2004).
In conclusion, animal abuse has been found to be on the increase which makes law professionals view the issue from as a more serious one. That is, they have continued to consider successful prosecution of instances of animal cruelty as of great significance owing to the fact that it is in a position to offer timely attendance to in danger of being domestically violated.
More so, “ensuring that animal cruelty instances are reported accordingly and in time also helps legal practitioners to keep information regarding potential human abusers in order that they are in a position to connect further criminal reports concerning them” (Heide & Perez, 2004). Finally, it occurs that when reports of animal abuse are forwarded to law keepers there arises personal satisfaction that in turn develops new form of understanding as well as skills which assist in building a compassionate society.
References
Arkow, P. (1999). Child abuse, domestic violence and animal abuse, children protecting, ncjrsgov pp 3
Ascione, F, Weber, C., Wood, D. (1997). The abuse of animals and domestic violence, Journal of Society and animals, ingenta pp 7
Danis, F. (2004), Breaking the silence in social work education: domestic violence modules for foundation courses, Council on Social Work Education, pp 6
Flynn, C. (1999). Exploring the link between corporal punishment and children’s cruelty to animals, Journal of marriage and the family, jrstor pp15
French, L & Becker, F. (2004), Making the links; child abuse, animal cruelty and domestic violence, ingentaconnect pp 14
Heide, K. & Perez, L. (2004). Animal cruelty: pathway to violence against people, Rowman Altamira. Pp 45
Linzey, A. (2009). Why Animal Suffering Matters: Philosophy, Theology, and Practical Ethics, Oxford University Press US pp 13
Piper, H. (2003), The linkage of animal abuse with interpersonal violence, Journal of Social Work, SAGE pp 18
Strand, E. & Faver, C. (2003), Domestic violence and Animal cruelty: Untangling the web of Abuse, Journal of Social Work education, Questia pp 29
ZAiontz, P. (2008). The link between animal cruelty and domestic violence: San Antonio’s response, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, pp 25
