The Abuse Of Animals And Domestic Violence
Research involving shelters for battered women across 49 states and the District of Columbia showed that a majority of their clients (both women and children) mention companion animal abuse. However, only about a fourth of these shelters systematically ask about companion animal mistreatment during their intake interview process.
In conducting this research, one shelter from each state (and D.C.) completed a questionnaire asking “whether women or children coming to the shelter mentioned companion animal abuse, and whether the respondents had noted the coexistence of domestic violence and companion animal abuse and, if so, their estimate of the extent of overlap between these forms of violence. We also asked whether a question about companion animal abuse was included in the shelter’s intake interview.”
% Responding “Yes” to each question:
- Do women who come into your shelter talk about incidents of companion animal abuse? (85%)
- Do children who come into your shelter talk about incidents of companion animal abuse? (63%)
- In your experience with shelters, have you observed the coexistence of domestic violence and companion animal abuse? (83%)
- Do you have any questions in your intake interview concerning companion animals? (27%)
In summary, the majority of shelters surveyed specified that women who seek shelter from abuse also mention companion animal abuse. A smaller majority of shelters specified that children mentioned instances of companion animal abuse in their homes, although it was found that where the children mention companion animal abuse, the women typically do so as well.
These findings imply that collaborative programs and efforts between animal welfare groups and domestic violence organizations may have some effect in reducing violence to all human and human victims. Related issues are discussed.