Child Abuse Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse PowerPoint Presentation

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Child Abuse, Domestic Violence,and Animal Abuse Angela Scott, J.D. Winona State University ascott@winona.edu 507-457-2892

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Agenda Historical perspective 4 major themes from the research A continuum of abuse Animal abuse by children An indicator of child abuse Therapeutic potential A note on elder abuse Practical implications of the research Resources

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Historical Perspective “Outright cruelty to animals was wrong because it produced violence toward humans.” Thomas Aquinas

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Historical Perspective “Those who delight in the suffering and destruction of inferior creatures will not be apt to be very compassionate or benign to those of their own species.” John Locke 1705

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Historical Perspective “Childhood cruelty to animals may be a precursor to antisocial behavior in adulthood.” Margaret Mead 1964

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Historical Perspective 1865 - Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals 1874 - Society to Prevent Cruelty to Children 1930s - Social Security Act – federal government recognizes an interest in protecting children from abuse 1944 - Prince v. Massachusetts - S Ct. confirms the state’s authority to intervene in the family to protect children. 1962 - Dr. C. Henry Kempe authors The Battered Child Syndrome – child abuse an independent diagnosis 1967 - Mandated Reporting Laws all 50 states 1970s - MR Laws expand to include sexual abuse

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4 Major Themes from the Research Animal Abuse as part of a continuum of abuse within the family Animal abuse perpetrated by children who show later aggressive and deviant behavior Animal abuse as an indicator of the existence of child abuse The therapeutic potential of animals in child development and within post abuse work Becker and French 2004

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A Continuum of Abuse 23 families in one social service area who were reported for animal abuse 82% of the families were also known to social services and the children were considered at risk 60% of families were known to probation Hutton (1980)

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A Continuum of Abuse 53 families - NJ division of Youth and Family Services In 88% of families where there was evidence of physical abuse to child there was also animal abuse. In approximately 2/3 of pet abusing homes the father was abusive toward pets In approximately 1/3 of pet abusing homes children were abusive toward pets DeViney et al (1983)

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A Continuum of Abuse Adults and children 10 times more likely to be bitten in abusive home 69% of families reporting animal abuse also reported animal had harmed a person. Only 6% of families in non abuse group reported animal harmed a person DeViney et al (1983)

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A Continuum of Abuse 21 Refuges for women 44% of abused women reported that their partners had abused or killed family pets 43% of the women reported that concern for their pets’ welfare prevented them from leaving the relationship earlier. Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (2000)

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A Continuum of Abuse 100 battered women / compared with a group of women in non-violent homes 50% of battered women reported their partner had hurt or killed pets 5% of non battered women reported partner had hurt or killed pets Almost 25% reported that they delayed leaving because of concern for animals. Ascione (2000)

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A Continuum of Abuse 101 victims of domestic violence These victims were 11 times more likely to report that their partner had hurt of killed a pet than a comparison group with no intimate partner violence If a pet was threatened or harmed, 34% delayed entering shelter out of concern for pet. Ascione et al 2007

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A Continuum of Abuse Domestic violence Animal abuse used to gain control Animal abuse used to gain silence. Ascione (1998), Arkow (1996), Firmani (1997)

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Continuum of Abuse Sexual abuse survivors reveal Pets used to gain control Pets used to ensure their silence Adams (1998) Batterers who also abuse animals More controlling Used more dangerous forms of violence including: sexual violence, marital rape emotional violence and stalking Simmons and Lehman (2007)

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A Continuum of Abuse

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Continuum of Abuse 860 college students in 3 universities in California, Ohio and Nebraska 60% who witnessed or perpetrated animal abuse cruelty as a child also reported experience with child maltreatment or domestic violence DeGue and DiLillo (2009)

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4 Major Themes from the Research Animal Abuse as part of a continuum of abuse within the family Animal abuse perpetrated by children who show later aggressive and deviant behavior Animal abuse as an indicator of the existence of child abuse The therapeutic potential of animals in child development and within post abuse work Becker and French 2004

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Animal Abuse by Children Animal abuse may be a form of rehearsal for human directed violence. Becker and French (2004)

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Animal Abuse by Children 28 incarcerated sexual homicide perpetrators 36% committed acts of animal cruelty in childhood 46% committed acts of animal cruelty in adolescence Ressler et al (1988)

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Animal Abuse by Children While not everyone who abuses animals becomes a serial killer, virtually every serial killer first abused animals. Mertz-Perez et al (2001)

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Animal Abuse by Children Albert DeSalvo – “The Boston Strangler” Trapped cats and dogs in boxes and shot arrows into the boxes David Borkowitz “The Son of Sam” Shot neighbors Labrador Retriever Jeffrey Dahmer Killed neighbors pets and impaled their heads on sticks in his yard Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold – Columbine Mutilated cats

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Animal Abuse by Children Features of childhood cruelty that are most predictive of later aggression Lack of remorse A variety of cruel acts Victimizing a variety of species Being cruel to socially valuable animals Dogs or cats v. rats Kellert and Felthous et al (1983)

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Animal Abuse by Children Living in a violent family may lead some children to vent their own fear and anger on those more vulnerable than they are. Ascione

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4 Major Themes from the Research Animal Abuse as part of a continuum of abuse within the family Animal abuse perpetrated by children who show later aggressive and deviant behavior Animal abuse as an indicator of the existence of child abuse The therapeutic potential of animals in child development and within post abuse work Becker and French 2004

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An Indicator of Child abuse 35% of boys who were sexually abused had abused animals 5% of non abuses boys 27% of girls who were sexually abused had abused animals 3% of non abused girls Friedrich et al (1986), Friedrich (1992)

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An Indicator of Child Abuse 12 year study 300 children who sexually abused other children and committed other violent offenses. Many of these children were molested as children 20% of these children had a history of sexually abusing animals The Young Abusers Project Duffield et al (1998)

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An Indicator of Child Abuse It has been noted that in most cases the sexual acts were carefully planned with pet animals targeted, isolated, groomed and abused (rather like their child victim counterparts) Duffield et al (1998)

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4 Major Themes from the Research Animal Abuse as part of a continuum of abuse within the family Animal abuse perpetrated by children who show later aggressive and deviant behavior Animal abuse as an indicator of the existence of child abuse The therapeutic potential of animals in child development and within post abuse work Becker and French 2004

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Therapeutic Potential Animal relationships can help children move along the developmental continuum and promote the development of resilience Gilligan (2000)

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Therapeutic Potential Give children warmth, recognition, attention Offer Comfort - physically and emotionally Provide friendship and companionship Help children develop responsibility “I can do it” Enhance empathy Promote healing

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A Note on Elder Abuse Pets are often the most visible victims … Elders on the other hand may be the most hidden victims. As many as one in 10 elders are abused. Lockwood

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A Note on Elder Abuse Elder abuse and animal abuse go together so often that when I see one I automatically look for the other. Barbara Fabricant 25 year investigator of animal abuse

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Practical Implications of the Research Cross Training Child Protection Law Enforcement Prosecutors Health Care Professionals Veterinarians Humane Services Women’s Shelters Child Advocacy Centers Judiciary Adult Protection And others

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Practical Implications of the Research Cross Reporting 9 states have cross reporting legislation as of July 2007 California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Ohio, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia Additional legislation pending in District of Columbia, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, DeGue and DiLillo (2009)

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Practical Implications of the Research Animal inclusion in protective order 9 states Maine, New York, Tennessee, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Connecticut, Vermont, Nevada Legislation pending in California, New Jersey, District of Columbia DeGue and DiLillo (2009)

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Practical Implications of the Research Forensic Interviews with children Ask children about their pets Excellent way to build rapport Ask are pets happy / safe? How does your pet learn to do something good? What happens if your pet does something wrong?

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Practical Implications of the Research Caregiver interview Ask about pets in the home Has child witnesses violence toward people or pets? Has child intentionally caused harm or injury to pet? Home visits How are pets treated in the home? How do they respond while you are present?

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Practical Implications of the Research Break the Cycle of abuse! As soon as possible If you find one form of violence, look for other forms of violence Offer counseling Specialized counseling from professional trained to deal with the issues of abuse

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Resources Safe Havens for Pet by Frank Ascione (2000) http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/safe_havens.html American Humane www.americanhumane.org Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org/firststrike _

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Resources 50 Strategies to Prevent Violent Domestic Crime http://mcgruffstore.org/50strattopre.html

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“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it, begin it now” Goethe