Dr Ormerod, our Chairman, has been invited to present to staff at Teesside NHS on the link between animal cruelty, child abuse and domestic violence. This follows the publication of a paper she co-authored which for the first- time applied Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model to illustrate a better understanding of family violence for practitioners. See Figure 1.
Identification of non-accidental injury (NAI) in companion animals is not easy. Veterinarians and human health practitioners can find it difficult to comprehend that someone would harm a family member, especially a pet or a child – and then present them at the clinic for treatment. Most of these cases arise from the perpetrator’s need for power and control, exercised through violence.
Animals, as vulnerable family members, are often targeted in such dysfunctional families. Veterinarians, and others who work with animals should be alert to signs that might indicate family violence. These include a high incidence of injuries in a family’s pets, and sometimes unusual injuries such as scalds, cigarette burns, severe conjunctivitis, stab wounds, amputations, fractures and dislocations. Often, there are repetitive injuries. There is often a high turnover of animals, especially young animals. There may be vet shopping – attending a number of vet surgeries for treatment. The histories may be discrepant – changing over time, or different histories given by different family members. The history may not “fit” the injury. Oftentimes the injuryies are explained as the result of an animal “falling” e.g .off a bed, or downstairs. Animals rarely suffer injury from such falls.
Seminal work on understanding the violence connection was conducted by Dr Stuart Hutton, one of the Founding Members of SCAS. Stuart was a social worker who understood the human-animal bond. His research demonstrated that families whose children were deemed at risk by Social Services, were also known to the RSPCA.
Dr Helen Munro, a Scottish veterinarian and forensic pathologists, catalogued the types of injuries sustained by companion animal victims of domestic abuse and demonstrated that these parallel the injuries sustained by abused children. Helen also authored Animal Abuse and Unlawful Killing, a major textbook on this subject with her husband, Professor Ranald Munro.
Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust has, for over 15 years been at the forefront of educating the professions in the UK about the link between animal cruelty, child abuse and domestic violence. Paula chairs The Links Group, of which SCAS is a member.
When animals are at risk, people are at risk, and vice versa.
Suspicions must be reported. Those who suspect abuse are not required to have proof, but should report their suspicion to Police, Child Protection, NSPCC or an SPCA as appropriate. Checks will be made, and reports logged. The information may be the missing part of a jigsaw, and could save a life. We all have a responsibility to each other.
Further reading and references
Jegatheesan B., Enders-Slegers MJ., Ormerod E., Boyden P. The Bioecological Model for Understanding the Link between Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Open access paper via this link: 17(9):3116 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17093116
Munro R. and Munro H. Animal Abuse and Unlawful Killing: Veterinary Forensic Pathology 2008 pub by Saunders. ISBN-13: 978-0702028786
The Links Group: https://thelinksgroup.org.uk