The link between animal maltreatment and human violence

Nancy Blaney and Mary Lou Randour

Chapter 103 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Animal Law, 2025, pp 394-396 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Interest in the link between animal maltreatment and human anti-social behavior began to appear in the literature in the late twentieth century. Major findings include that animal cruelty and intimate partner violence frequently occur in the same household, and domestic violence (DV) survivors often delay leaving out of fear for their pets’ safety; animal cruelty appearing at an early age and recurring throughout childhood and adolescence is a strong indicator of psychopathology; and witnessing animal abuse has a deleterious effect on children. This research and these findings have inspired a variety of laws, including laws allowing the inclusion of pets on protection orders; enhancing penalties when children witness animal abuse; requiring cross-reporting between animal and human service agencies; and creating a federal grant programme to assist domestic violence survivors with companion animals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also included animal cruelty crimes in its crime database.

Keywords: Animal Cruelty; Interpersonal Violence; Protection Order; Child Witnessing; Cross Reporting; Animal Crime Data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781803923666
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