Phil ArkowCoordinator

National Link CoalitionStratford, NJ

arkowpets@snip.net - 856-627-5118www.nationalLINKcoalition.org

Inaugural President’s Council LectureAnimal Rescue League of Boston

Oct. 28, 2014

The Cycle of Violence:The Connection between Violence to Humans and Animals(A Species-Spanning Approach )

How I Got Here

The curious teacher

training….

The provocative research study….

The fatefulafter-dinner

speech….

How to Shift a Paradigm:Recognize Animal Welfare’s Impact on Healthy People andHealthy Communities

“Animal cruelty is more than just a legal issue. It’s a community issue. If you improve animal welfare in a community, you improve public safety for everyone.”

-- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Our Basic Premises

• We can prevent animal abuse and other forms of family violence by paying more attention to animal abuse as a potential indicator and predictor crime.

• Measures to prevent, prosecute and punish animal cruelty are just as beneficial to Man (and Woman) as they are to Man’s Best Friend.

• Witness• Perpetrate• Sexual abuse

• Neglect pet• Neglect self• Hoarding

“When animals are abused, people are at risk;

When people are abused, animals are at risk.”

What isThe Link?

• Family violence

• Animal fighting

• Manipulate• Intimidate• Retaliate• Emotional blackmail• Hostages

Types of Links – Potential Indicator/Predictor Crimes

1. Emotional blackmail to humiliate, intimidate, or retaliate

2. Battered women are afraid to leave home: partner will kill pets; no one to care for them

DomesticViolence

SexualAbuse

3. To coerce children into sexual acts or silence

ChildDevelopment

4. Children commit or witness animal cruelty: lifelong, devastating emotional results

Hoarding 5. Pathological altruism; often elderly

Animal Fighting

6. Dog/cock fights (31%)

Why should animal abuse be taken seriously?

• ID’s people engaging in other crimes

• Exposes family violence

• Humane investigators often first responders, first social services access to a family in crisis

• Indicator that children at risk to themselves and to others • Witnesses or victims more comfortable talking about it

• Begins early in childhood (median age: 61/2)

• Animal abuse inflicts pain and suffering on victims

• History of animal abuse or neglect in 21.1% of fatal dog bites

• Frequently co-occurred with:• Dog not spayed/neutered• Compromised ability of victim to interact with dog• Dog a “resident” rather than “family”pet

• Preventable factors more significant than dog’s breed. (Patronek et. al, JAVMA, 2013)

Why should animal abuse be taken seriously?

Why are people cruel to animals?

As many reasons as for interpersonal violence, including:

• Ignorance and inability to empathize

•Inadequate coping skills (more sensitive to stress and strain; pet’s behavior releases frustration and anger)

• Socialized to abuse

• Believe abuse is justified and beneficial (power & control)

• Entitlement (animals not worth moral consideration)

• Personality dysfunction, poor impulse control

• Religious and regional subcultures

Reasons for Deliberate Cruelty or Killing of Animals by CHILDREN:All of the above, plus…

• Curiosity or exploration

• Peer pressure

• Relieve boredom or depression

• Fear of the animal

• Coercion by a more powerful person

• To protect the animal from worse abuse

• Re-enacting their own experience of being abused

• Regaining a sense of power after abuse

• Imitating adult actions

• Rehearsal for interpersonal violence

• More homes have pets than children

pets than children• More money on pet food thanbaby food

•More dogs in the US than people in most countries in Europe… and more cats than dogs!

• 7th largest retail sector

• More likely to grow up with pets than a father

How we view our pets has changed dramatically…

How we view our pets has changed dramatically…

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act -- Oct. 2006

Hurricane Katrina …

How we view our pets has changed dramatically…

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami

FukushimaEarthquake,Tsunami, &Nuclear Meltdown,2011

Enhance and facilitate social capital —a protective factor for community health

• Sense of community

• Catalysts for neighborly reciprocity

• Motivation to use public spaces

• Encourage recreation

• PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

How we view our pets has changed dramatically…

Challenges…

AVMA: U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 2012

Challenge…

Traditional Family Systems Theory

Community

Challenge…

Challenges…

CrueltyAnimal controlVets

MoreAppropriate Family Systems Theory

Community

Challenge resolved!

Challenges…

Case studies

“A 4 year-old is beaten to death; a pastor and family vanish”

-- Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 11, 1999

Animal welfare investigatorsare often the first responders…

Case studies

Animals are harmedto controlbatteredwomen

How has The Link been studied?

Arson

Bedwetting

Animal abuse

1970s:The“Triad” of behaviors found in childhood histories of many killers

How has The Link been studied?

The “Tangled Web” - 1980s

David Berkowitz“Son of Sam”

Albert DeSalvo“Boston Strangler”

The RoguesThe Rogues’’ Gallery continues… Gallery continues…

Ted BundyLee Malvo Donald Rader

“The BTK Killer”Brian David Mitchell(Kidnapping ofElizabeth Smart)

Jeffrey and his dog Frisky

“Clues to a Dark Nurturing Ground for One Serial Killer”

-- New York Times, Aug. 7, 1991

Jeffrey Dahmer

How has The Link been studied?

1990s:

School-yard

shooters:

43% have

histories of

animal abuse

Kip KinkleEric Harris & Dylan Klebold

• Fire setting

• Bullying

• Other criminal acts

• Corporal punishment

• Physical and/or sexual abuse

• Exposure to domestic violence

• Exposure to animal abuse

Becker, Steuwig, Herrera & McCloskey, 2004: A Study of Firesetting and Animal Cruelty in Children:

Family Influences & Adolescent OutcomesHenry & Sanders (2007): Bullying and Animal Abuse:

Is there a Connection?

2000s – RiskFactorsLinked WithAnimalAbuse

How has The Link been studied?

Does Animal Abuse Always Lead to Human Violence?

Source: Northeastern University

153 cruelty offenders: • tracked for 10 years before &10 years after• matched with control group

Criminal offenses: Animal abusers: 70%Non-abusers: 22%

Conclusion: Animal abuse doesn’t always lead to human violence, but we’re not surprised when there is a Link

The“LittleMaryEllen”Case(1874)

Henry BerghFounderASPCA

Animal Abuse & Child Abuse

Animal Abuse & Child Abuse

- 60% of pet-owning families Investigated for child abuse or neglect also had abused or neglected pets

- Animal abuse occurred in 88% of familieswith physical child abuse

- Bite rate was 11x greater

- Use of veterinary services similar to general population

Source: DeViney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983

Children are especially drawn to animals and often confide their secrets, fears and angers to their pets; abused children more likely to do this. Pets may be children’s only friends in chaotic homes and may help buffer against maladjustment.

Source: Melson, 2001; Robin, ten Bensel, Quigley & Anderson, 1984; Risley-Curtiss et al., 2006; Strand, 2004

Animal Abuse & Child Abuse

• Children’s literature & media saturated with animals

• First words in toddlers’ vocabularies

• Fairy tales have more animals than fairies

• 80-90% of children first experience loss through

petsGail F. Melson:

Why the Wild Things Are (2001)

Animal Abuse & Child Abuse

“A growing body of evidence suggests that bonds formed or broken with companion animals reverberate and resonate across the lifespan.”

(Jalongo, 2004)

Pet-keeping is a pivotal point of childhood identification and part of the construct of childhood memories.

Animal Abuse & Child Abuse

Witnessing animal cruelty can be as emotionally devastating to a child as perpetrating it .

(DeGue & DeLillo, 2008)

Aggressive Behavior in Children

“Does Animal Abuse Always Lead to Human Violence?”

(Shapiro, 2011; McPhedran, 2009)

Aggressive Behavior in Children

“Does Animal Abuse Always Lead to Human Violence?”

• Causal or co-relational?

• Graduation hypothesis?

• General deviance?

• Context of home environment and abusive

experiences?

• Something else?

• All of the above?

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW:

(Shapiro, 2011; McPhedran, 2009)

Domestic Violence andChild Abuse

Impact of IPV on children:•“There is no safe place”•“Adults can’t protect themselves or us”•Child takes on responsibility of protecting the victims•Ambivalent feelings over abuser/parent•Chronic fear leads to aggression•In homes with domestic violence, risk of co-occurring child abuse 45% - 60%; children abused 15x higher than norm

--Betsy McAlister Groves, Child Witness to Violence Project, Boston MA, 2004

Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence

Incidents occurred:In presence of women – 87% In presence of children – 75% (Quinlisk, 1994)

One of 4 most significant risk factorsof becoming a batterer

Walton-Moss, Manganello, Frye & Campbell (2005)

Batterers who also abuse pets use more forms of violence and are more dangerous

Simmons, C.A. & Lehman, P. (2007)

41% of IPV offenders had committed at least 1 act of animal abuse since age of 18 (Rate in general pop.: 1.5%) (Febres et al., 2014)

32% -- children had hurt or killed animals (Ascione, 1998)

71% -- partner killed, harmed or threatened animal

18% - 48% of women don’t leave Ascione (2007)

Animal Abuse and the Duluth Model of Power & Control

Intimidation: Harming or killing a pet and threatening that the same thing will happen to you if you don’t comply with the abuser’s demands.

Emotional abuse: Calling your pet names, or giving away or killing a pet to take away your primary source of comfort and unconditional love.

Isolation: Refusing to allow you to take your pet to your vet. Prohibiting you from socializing your dog with other dogs.

Using Children: Harming or killing the children’s pet to intimidate them. Blaming the “disappearance” of the family pet on you to create a wedge between you and the children.

Economic Abuse: Refusing to allow you to spend money on adequate pet food and/or vet care (then blaming you when the neglect is noticed by authorities).

Coercion and Threats: Threatening to harm or kill your pet if you leave or assert any independence.

Minimizing, Denying & Blaming: Blaming you or your pet for the cruelty. Killing a pet and then saying that it doesn’t matter because the pet was old.

Legal Abuse: Trying to take possession of a pet for which you have been the primary caretaker. Filing charges of pet theft against you if you leave with the pet.

The Animal Abuse/Domestic ViolenceInter-Generational Cycle of Violence

Animal Abuse – The “Wake-Up Call”

• Many victims blames themselves for the abuse and are isolated from others who can provide a reality check. Animal cruelty is a wake-up call that the fault lies not within themselves, but in the personality of the abuser.

Animal Abuse and Elder Abuse

Animal Welfare Issues for Social/Adult Protective Services

1. Neglect of pet

2. Neglect self to care for pet

3. Coercion & control

4. Attachment and pet loss5. Safety of caseworker, home health

aide, or homemaker services

6. Animal hoarding

Four Types of Animal Hoarders

Animals provide acceptance, sense of self-worth, conflict-free relationships

Animal Abuse and Elder Abuse

1. Mental illnessAttachment disorders? Depression? Obsession-Compulsion Disorder? Agoraphobia? Anxiety? Schizophrenia? Alzheimer’s?

2. Overwhelmed: good intentions gone bad; the go-to lady.

3. Rescuers: only ones who can care for them, state of denial, identity tied to possession, deep mistrust of others.

4. Exploiters: greed or criminal intent.

Animal Abuse and Law Enforcement

History of animal abuse a better

predictor of sexual assault than

previous convictions for homicide,

arson or firearms offenses

35% of search warrants

executed

in Chicago for animal abuse or

dog fighting investigations

seizures of illegal drugs and/or

weapons

The Veterinarian’s Role: “The Other Family Doctor”

1. Prevent public health problems2. Protect others at-risk3. Care-giving profession4. Role in public health5. Best-trained to ID substandard care6. Set highest standards for animal welfare7. Build bridges to community groups8. Elevate the status of the profession9. To improve the well-being of animals

Vets need training:- To consider possibility of abuse- To recognize when clients givemisleading info- In veterinary forensics

Resolving Veterinary ConcernsStatutory: Mandate

Peer Support: Association Policies and Codes of Conduct

Practice Management: Guidance

(Continuing) Veterinary Education: Forensics

DVMs report Child Abuse: CA, CO (18 states: everyone mandated)DVMs report Elder Abuse: IL

Link-based Legislative SolutionsFelony-level crimes

Emerging interest in The Link

2012

2012

2014

2014

2014

Legislative SolutionsPet Protection Orders

27 states, Wash. DC& Puerto Rico include pets in domestic violence protection orders

Sept. 2014: FBI to add 4 categories of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect to NIBRS UCR system for 18,000 law enforcement agencies

Sept. 2014: (“bi-petisan”) H.R. 5267 introduced to extend anti-stalking and PPO protections beyond 27 states to federal level; federal funds for pet safehouses

Rep. Katherine Clark(D – Mass.)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen(R – Fla.)

Feb. 2014: Federal felony to bring a child to an animal fight(Farm Bill)

Legislative SolutionsFederal Level

“Safe Havens”

900 women’s shelters: Foster referrals

“Doggie Witness Protection Programs”

Programmatic SolutionsDomestic Violence Pet Support

“SAF-T” – Sheltering Animals & Families Together86 pet-friendly women’s shelters(none in Massachusetts – yet…)

www.redrover.org

$3,000 grants for construction$500 grants for vet care

Programmatic SolutionsCommunity Link Coalitions

Community LINK Coalitionsand Animal Cruelty Task Forces• Prosecutors• Law Enforcement• Cruelty investigators as first responders

Baltimore: Pets in the Safety Plan

Programmatic SolutionsCommunity Awareness

Programmatic SolutionsCommunity Awareness

Spotabuse.org Milwaukee, Wis.

(1962)

(1996)

We Have Come a Long Way in a Short Period of Time…

(1979)

But We’re Coming Full CircleHumane history is based in The LINK…And it started here in Massachusetts!

OFF THE BRUITE CREATURE92. No man shall exercise any Tirranny or Crueltie towards any bruite Creature which are usuallie kept for man’s use.

-- Massachusetts Bay Colony’sBody of Liberties -- 1641

First “Link” prosecutions: 1649 (Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony)

• William Flint charged with beating a bull and

cow

and his son at one time in a cruel

manner

• Ann Haggett fined for beating her child and calf

in a cruel manner with an ax

Humane history is based in The LINK

Humane history is based in The LINK

1786 – Founding of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts(3rd oldest charity in the state)

“for the recovery of persons who meet with such accidents as to produce in them the appearance of death, and for promoting the cause of humanity, by pursuing such means as shall have for their object the preservation of human life and the alleviation of its miseries.”

Humane history is based in The LINK

The “humane society” is the greatest friend of hunted animals.

“No humane being, past the thoughtless age of boyhood, will wantonly murder any creature which holds its life by the same tenure that he does.” - Walden (1854)

Shipwrecked seamen may seek shelter in “Charity or Humane Houses” on beaches of Barnstable County.

Of a little boy who poached 80 swallows’ eggs from their nests: “Tell it not to the Humane Society.”

- Cape Cod (1865)

Henry David Thoreau

Humane history is based in The LINK

“The humane education movement is a broad one, reaching from humane treatment of animals on the one hand to peace with all nations on the other…It implies character building. Society first said that needless suffering should be prevented; society now says that children must not be permitted to cause pain because of the effect on the children themselves.”

-- Sarah J. Eddy, Friends & Helpers.

Boston: Ginn & Co., 1897

Sarah Jane Eddy1842-1916

N.E. Animal welfarist,Suffragette,Abolitionist

PhilanthropistPhotographer, artist, writer

Founder, RI Humane Ed. Assn.

Humane history is based on The LINK

“While getting dogs and cats off the street is work worth doing, the teaching of thoughtful kindness is the work that changes families, communities, and a nation.”

The ARL’s Reason for Being

– Anna Harris Smith, Founder, Animal Rescue League of Boston

(Ipsos-Reid National Urban Animal Report 2010)

“The philosophy in the animal welfare community is switching to addressing human problems that underlie crises with animals. Animal shelters’ service philosophy is evolving to recognize that treating symptoms of animal welfare problems, such as animal homelessness, abuse and neglect, is only a stopgap solution: to be truly effective, underlying causes such as community and family dysfunction and violence must be addressed.”

FAST FORWARD: How Do We Shift a Paradigm?

Phil ArkowCoordinator

National Link CoalitionStratford, NJ

arkowpets@snip.net - 856-627-5118www.nationalLINKcoalition.org

“Family violence is a matter of power and control. Often, the choice of victim is opportunistic. Whenever one member of the family is abused, all others in the family are at risk.”

Making a Difference in Your Community:A Species-Spanning Approach toBreaking the Cycles of Violence