Article - The Violence Connection
Shelagh MacDonald
Albert De Salvo, the Boston Strangler, killed thirteen women. In his youth he trapped dogs and cats in crates and shot arrows into them. Caroll Edward Cole, reputed to be one of the most prolific serial killers in US history, was convicted for five of 35 murders accused. He confessed his first act of violence was to strangle a puppy under the porch of his house. Keith Jesperson, the Happy Face Killer, strangled eight women. He beat, strangled and shot stray cats and dogs. He once said, "Choking a human being or a cat - it's the same feeling. I'm the very end result of what happens when somebody kills an animal at an early age."
These are just a few examples of the link between animal abuse and human violence; unfortunately, there are many more. While the animal welfare movement has long recognized that children who are cruel to animals will grow up being insensitive to people, the rest of the world has only recently become aware of this connection. The body of research and evidence linking animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence is massive and growing.
A 1997 study by the Massachusetts SPCA found that 70% of animal abusers had committed at least one other criminal offence and almost 40% had committed violent crimes against people.
A 1998 study of women in shelters in Utah conducted by Frank Ascione found that 71% of pet-owning women entering a shelter reported their husband or boyfriend had threatened, maltreated or killed an animal.
A 1983 study by DeViney, Dickert and Lockwood found that 60% of pet-owning families meeting criteria for child abuse and neglect also had abused or neglected their pets.
According to a 1994-95 study in Wisconsin, 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of the incidents occurred in the presence of the women.
Humane societies and SPCAs have taken the lead in creating greater awareness of "the link" and in building bridges among those who work to address violence in society, whether towards women, children or animals. Dr. Randall Lockwood, Vice President of Training Initiatives with the Humane Society of the United States, and Phil Arkow, Chair of the Child and Animal Abuse Prevention Project with the Latham Foundation, are two of the leading, world-renowned experts on the link between animal abuse and human violence.
In 1995, the CFHS co-hosted with the British Columbia SPCA the first violence prevention seminar in Canada. This seminar featured Dr. Lockwood as the keynote speaker as well as speakers working in law enforcement, family violence and animal protection. The aim was to educate people who work in violence prevention and to encourage cross-reporting of abuse. The fact is that when animals are at risk, people are at risk, and when people are at risk, animals are at risk.
Several violence prevention seminars have since been held in various parts of the country. CFHS co-hosted with the Moncton SPCA the first ever Atlantic-based seminar in late September, featuring Phil Arkow. In October, Dr. Lockwood was the keynote speaker at the first seminar held in the north, hosted by the Humane Society Yukon.
These seminars and the work of CFHS have educated the general public, the media and even the government about the link between domestic violence and animal abuse. When then Justice Minister Anne McLellan introduced Bill C-17 in the House of Commons on December 1, 1999, the Minister's press release stated: "Amended legislation to deal with cruelty to animals signifies the seriousness of these acts that are often warning signs of violent behaviour aimed at people."
In addition to raising awareness of "the link", humane societies and SPCAs also play an important role through humane education programs aimed at teaching children compassion and respect for animals. CFHS supports these programs by delivering workshops on humane education, publishing its newsletter, The Humane Educator, and distributing humane education materials to societies.
