Research: The Link Between Human Violence & Animal Abuse
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Tribal law scholars Sarah Deer and Liz Murphy authored a paper on the link between human violence and animal abuse in Native communities.
You can download their paper “Animals May Take Pity on Us: Using Traditional Tribal Beliefs to Address Animal Abuse and Family Violence Within Tribal Nations” here. Why is this research important? Because it shows: |
- Animal cruelty rarely occurs in isolation. It's usually "the tip of the iceberg" and its investigation is usually the first opportunity for social services or law enforcement intervention. The old attitude of "It's just an animal" is being replaced with a new awareness: "If someone’s hurting animals, another vulnerable person in the home or neighborhood is next."
- Batterers often kill and abuse pets to orchestrate fear, violence and coercion in homes marked by domestic violence.
- A history of pet abuse is one of the top risk factors for becoming a batterer.
- In a dozen studies, 15% to 48% of battered women delay leaving abusive situations – or return to them – out of fear for the safety of their animals.
- 71% of battered women report that abusers hurt, killed or threatened their pets to control them and their children.
- Severe animal neglect in the form of hoarding often indicates elders needing social services or mental health assistance.
Significance for Tribal Communities
Native people are not more violent against people and/or animals than non-Native people. In fact, Native people have many traditions and practices that show a profound respect for animals. Indigenous peoples' traditional lifeways teach respect and care for all living things (humans and animas are considered relatives). Animal abuse committed in connection with violent/abusive acts against people (such as violence against women) is a result of colonization, a disruption of indigenous traditions, and a lack of availability of and/or accessibility to animal care/control services in tribal communities.
Helpful Resources
We are currently working on developing materials on the link between human violence and animal abuse that more specifically address some of the considerations for our tribal cultures, traditions, and sovereign nation status. Our goal in sharing any information on the this link is so that tribal agencies will be able to recognize animal abuse in order to save the lives of our women, children, elders, and their animals.
Below are links to helpful resources and materials, made possible through the generous support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation.
Below are links to helpful resources and materials, made possible through the generous support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation.
- Sheltering Animals and Families Together, created by SAF-T on creating a pet-friendly domestic violence shelter
- Animal Abuse and Child Abuse, Examining the Link, from the Virginia Child Protection Newsletter
- Should Animal Abuse and Neglect Be Assessed During Adult Protective Services Screening? from the National Adult Protective Services Resource Center
Animal Welfare Institute's Safety Planning for Pets of DV Victims
- Keep emergency provisions for your pet in case your abuser withholds money.
- Keep the phone number of the nearest 24 hour emergency veterinary clinic
- Establish ownership of your pet by creating a paper trail (e.g. obtain a license, have veterinarian records put in your name)
- If you are planning to leave ...
- Obtain safe emergency shelter for pet, somewhere that won't be disclosed to your abuser (e.g. veterinarian, friend, family, a safe haven for pets.)
- Pack a bag for your pet that includes:
- Food, medicine, documents of ownership (receipts from adoption or purchase of pet, license to establish ownership, receipts for animal purchases), health documents (veterinary or vaccination records), leash, ID and rabies tag, if a dog or cat (these will also help establish ownership), pet carrier, toys, bedding
- If you must leave without your pet, remember to leave enough food, fresh bedding, litter, etc. for your pet.)
- Keep pets indoors (if possible)
- Don't let the pet outside alone
- Pick a safe route and time to walk your pet
- Don't exercise/walk pet alone
- Change your veterinarian
Grants for Domestic Violence Victims
RedRover offers several grants for victims of domestic violence and their pets. Learn more here.
Materials used with permission of the National Link Coalition and Allie Phillips. Additional resources available at: nationallinkcoalition.org and saftprogram.org