Link between pet abuse and family violence

In recent years there has been a renaissance of interest in an age-old concept that cruelty to animals frequently serves as a bellwether of interpersonal, family, and community violence. Compelling links have been reported connecting animal abuse with child maltreatment, domestic violence, elder abuse, violence perpetrated by children and adolescents, and dogfighting and associated criminal activities. A multidisciplinary cadre of authorities are re-examining the complex motivations behind acts of animal cruelty, and are advancing innovative animal-assisted intervention strategies to work with the perpetrators and victims of family violence. Concomitantly, researchers are expanding knowledge of how pets improve individual health and functioning to a broader perspective that includes pets within the scope of enhanced social capital and community well-being, with many implications for public health professionals.