PET ABUSE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

Further to the "Facets of Family Violence" articles running this month, it is important to be aware of the connection between animal abuse and violence towards people, commonly called the "link". Violence towards animals is another facet of intimate partner violence, child abuse and elder abuse. Animals may suffer directly from neglect or other forms of cruelty. In addition animals may be used as a tool for the abuser to control and punish the victim. Threatening or hurting a pet may be used as a warning, or to force victims, including children, to remain silent with threats to harm the animal if the violent behaviour is reported. Multiple studies have shown that victims will delay leaving the family home out of fear for an animal's safety, including pets or farm animals. It has also been shown that children who hurt animals may be acting out of their own experience, i.e. what they see at home, or what they undergo themselves.

Law enforcement agencies, domestic violence and child welfare agencies, and veterinarians and animal protection organizations are working together more and more in recognition of this "link". Inspector

Leslie Hadfield of the Atlantic Police Academy will be giving a free public talk, "The Violence Link: The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence," on March 4 as part of the Atlantic Veterinary College's upcoming conference on animal abuse and neglect. Registration for the public talk is at https:// awc.upei.ca/animal-welfarein-practice.

If you are concerned that an animal is being abused or neglected, please contact the P.E.I. Humane Society at 902-892-1190 for cats, dogs and other small animals, the Department of Agriculture and Land at 902-368-4880 for livestock, including horses, or, for wildlife concerns, 902-3684683.

Alice Crook,DVM Adjunct professor, Atlantic Veterinary College Charlottetown