CATS Magazine - March 1998 issue

  Tamara Barnes knew someone was abusing her cats. Tom-Tom suffered a broken leg and burned paws; Miranda had a broken tooth and a swollen eye; and someone wrapped a rubber band so tightly around Jeepers' neck that it had become embedded in the skin.

Someone, but who? Despite the evidence, Tamara was reluctant to face the truth-until the day she came home to find her husband wrapping Tom-Tom in duct tape. When she threatened to call the police, he warned her, "I'll kill this cat if I want to, and I can kill you, too."

Who's At Risk?
Tamara's situation has become far too common. Increasingly, animal welfare agencies and social service agencies are recognizing the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence. In homes where humans are suffering abuse, their pets also are in danger, and vice versa.

"Society has traditionally compartmentalized acts of violence--separating definitions of child abuse from domestic violence or street violence or cruelty to animals," reports A. William Ritter Jr. in a recent issue of "The Prosecutor" magazine. He notes, however, that "Evidence is mounting that violent acts are not separate and distinct, but part of a cycle. The forces and influences that foster violence toward humans and animals spring from the same roots."

A study by Dr. Frank Ascione of Utah State University confirms that in households with domestic violence, pets are 15 times more likely to be harmed or killed than in households with no domestic violence. But the danger to pets is only half of the story. While those who abuse people also are likely to abuse animals, the reverse is true as well. Research indicates those who abuse animals are far more likely to commit acts of violence against people.

A study by the Massachusetts SPCA, for example, examined records of individuals who had committed acts of animal cruelty, and found 70 percent had committed at least one criminal offense and 38 percent had committed violent acts against people. In addition, abusers were four times as likely as non-abusers to commit property crimes, and three times as likely to be arrested for drug-related offenses or disorderly conduct.

An even more frightening aspect of domestic violence is its self-perpetuating nature. Those who begin to abuse animals early in life are at a high risk of moving on to other violent crimes. Quite often, such individuals are abuse victims themselves: A study of convicted murderers found that of those who had been sexually abused as children, 58 percent also had committed acts of animal cruelty (compared to 15 percent of convicted murderers who had not been abused).

Childhood animal cruelty is regarded as a key predictor of future violent behavior. That's not to say every child who is abused or witnesses abuse will become an abuser, criminal or mass murderer. Statistics like these are the "narrow end" of the funnel. They don't indicate how many (Or how few) abuse victims actually go on to commit acts of violence in later years-only that a history of domestic violence is an important risk factor in those who do. And with 369,000 cases of child maltreatment confirmed by child protection service agencies in 1996 alone, there's a lot of risk.

How bad is it?

Tamara became aware of her husband's abusive tendencies within weeks after they married; yet she didn't leave the abusive environment until nearly two years later. Why did she stay? "Because no were available to help me care for my pets," she says.

She's not alone. In Dr. Acione's study of women who entered a Utah shelter for battered women, "nearly one in four reported that concern for their pets had kept them from coming to the shelter earlier." And almost as many reported "coercion" as the partner's primary motive for threatening or harming a pet. Often, perpetrators make such threats - and carry them out-to keep a partner from leaving or reporting the abuse.

Dr. Ascione's study found 71 percent of battered women who owned pets reported threats against them, while 57 percent reported actual harm. While Dr. Ascione warns against applying these figures to the nation as a whole, additional studies confirm the high percentages of threats and abuse to pets. Another Utah study indicates as many as 1,000 women in that state alone "may experience partner abuse of pets."

Other studies confirm the relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence. A report from Great Britain, for example found that of 23 families being investigated by the Royal SPCA, 82 percent also were on record with social service agencies as having "children at risk."

In one of Dr. Ascione's studies, nearly 70 percent of children whose mothers had sought refuge at a "safe house" reported they had witnessed animal abuse. Most of those incidents involved "pain, discomfort, torturing or killing the pet." In many cases, the perpetrator was a father, stepfather or mother's boyfriend.

Pets often are the victims of a domestic violence "pecking order." In one study, 16 percent of the women interviewed reported having, at one time or another, "directed their anger" at children or pets. Several women also reported that one of their children had inflicted harm upon a pet.

ROOTS OF VIOLENCE

The factors that contribute to the abuse of children and of pets are remarkably similar. According to 78 year old Latham Foundation (see Resources), a non-profit organization that promotes respect for all life through education, these elements include:

· Physical, emotional or sexual abuse as a child

· Lack of parenting or interpersonal skills

· Problems with coping and self-control

· Lack of understanding of child/pet development leading to unrealistic expectations.

· Acceptance of violence as a solution to problems

· Belief that children and pets are property

· Substance abuse

At the heart of the issue lies the question of control. Batters typically demonstrate an inability (or unwillingness) to control their emotions and behaviors. According to the Latham Foundation, they often lack impulse control, respond the emotion of the moment and have "limited tolerance of frustration." These problems often are compounded by alcohol or drug abuse.

Because they lack coping skills, perpetrators often feel "victimized" by the world around them, and at the mercy of events or circumstances that seem out of control. Inadequate parenting (and pet care) skills can increase this sense of victimization: Rather than understanding that it's normal for a 2-year old to spill milk or for a kitten to climb the drapes, a perpetrator becomes enraged by these actions and regards them a "deliberate" disobedience.

When the world seems out of control, the perpetrator's response is to attempt to impose control - on everything and everyone except himself. Lacking the ability to manage anger, the perpetrator's unresolved rage builds up from one event to the next, until it explodes - often out of all proportion the trigger event. When that same individual regards violence as an acceptable solution to "problems," that explosion is likely to be destructive. Often, the perpetrator will lash out at the nearest (or most vulnerable) target.

Such was the case with Tamara's abusive husband. "He was a walking ball of anger, mad at the world," she says. "He felt the world was out of control." The one part of the world that he could control and attack without risk was Tamara's pets and, by extension, Tamara herself.

The Latham Foundation cites nine common situations in which this lack of control translates into animal abuse:

• To control an animal's behavior. Cruel or excessive punishment is often used in an attempt to modify a pet's behavior, or to eliminate unwanted behaviors. In many cases, correction is administered impulsively rather than as part of any consistent training effort.
• To retaliate for perceived wrong. Those who seek retaliation or revenge often believe an animal misbehaved "deliberately" or "out of spite." The perpetrator takes satisfaction in "getting back at" the pet and "making it pay."
• To retaliate against another person. An abuser wishes to inflict pain and suffering upon a human victim, and does so by inflicting harm upon a beloved pet. Batters may use threats or retaliation against a pet to control the behavior of a spouse, partner or child.
• Out of prejudice against a species or breed. Some perpetrators abuse because the "hate cats" or "hate dogs," or hate a particular breed. In some cases, this is based upon cultural or social biases.
• To express aggression through an animal. Some abusers train animals to attack other animals or even humans. In this case, the abuser is literally using an animal as a weapon to inflict harm and vent anger.
• To enhance one's own sense of, or experience with, aggressiveness. For some, abusing animals provides a sense of strength and power. For others, it's a way of "training" aggressive skills and, in many cases, "working up to" acts of violence against humans. In gangs or cults, members may be required to demonstrate their commitment and aggression by killing or maiming animals.
• To shock, amuse or show off. Some perpetrators enjoy demonstrating their willingness to hurt animals-to demonstrate how "tough' they are or because it amuses them and their friends.
• To express displaced hostility. A person who cannot lash out against an abuser may, instead, displace that anger onto a more vulnerable target, such as a pet.
• Out of sadism. In some cases, perpetrators commit acts of cruelty simply because they derive pleasure from the pain, suffering or death of the victim.

Batters typically demonstrate an inability to control their emotions and behavior, but is abuse simply a matter of losing control? Carol Adams and Delora Wisemoon, writers for "The Animals' Agenda" magazine, think not. "Many people want to believe the batterer's story-he beat his wife because he lost control," they note. However, "when a man batters a family animal, his purposefulness is exposed. He is much less convincing…. Harming or killing the family animal demonstrates precisely how conscious, deliberate and willful the batterer's intentions are."

Some acts of abuse are the result of a moment of uncontrolled rage. Many others, however, are deliberately performed as an attempt to impose control upon those who will experience the greatest degree of psychological suffering from the act: Women and children who love their pets.

What Can Be Done?

Recognizing the links between domestic violence and animal abuse is the first step in bringing together appropriate agencies to combat the problem. According to the Latham Foundation, "the child protection service or domestic violence coordinator is highly likely to encounter companion animals during human service interventions…. Conversely, agents from humane societies, SPCA's and animal control agencies, plus veterinarians, need to be aware of the likelihood that child or spouse maltreatment may be occurring in homes under investigation for suspected animal abuse and neglect."

Currently, most animal control agencies have no authority over domestic violence issues, while social agencies lack authority to deal with pets (except to turn them over to animal control services if no one is available to care for them). Agencies need to develop ways to work together, to report potentially dangerous situations to one another, and to coordinate services to help battering victims whose pets also are at risk.

Traditionally, the solution to a case of animal abuse is to remove the animal from the home. However, because a companion animal may be a battering victim's primary source of emotional support, this actually may provide strong incentive for a victim not to report abuse. Animal welfare agencies in many communities are beginning to explore other ways to deal with issues of animal abuse and domestic violence.

One successful program involves combining the resources of a battered women's shelter with those of a local animal shelter. The goal is to offer a safe haven for pets, and thus encourage the victim to leave the abusive environment. Two communities have pioneered this approach (see "Shelters Making A Difference"), and others are exploring the possibility.

Perhaps the most important step that can be taken is to increase awareness of the problem. Definitions of animal cruelty vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as do the penalties for such actions. In many areas animals are considered property-and acts of animal abuse often are judged in terms of "destruction to property." Lawmakers need to become more aware of the social implications of abuse and the risk that youthful abusers may move on to more serious crimes.

Without increased community awareness, however, things will be slow to change. Here are some steps you can take now to help protect animals (and people) in your community:

• Encourage public awareness. Encourage local agencies to regard animal abuse and domestic violence as interrelated, rather than separate.
• Talk to local shelters. Humane associations and/or battered women's shelters need to know the advantages of developing a cooperative program for housing pets of abuse victims.
• Make contributions. Donate your time and money to existing programs that provide safe housing for pets.
• Know what's available. Familiarize yourself with the agencies that handle domestic violence and animal abuse. Learn the reporting procedures so you'll know what to do if you become aware of an incident.
• Report abuse. If you see of suspect an incident of animal or human abuse, you may be the victim's only hope. Notify authorities.

Since the animal protection movement began in England in the 1820's, laws to protect animals and laws to protect women and children have evolved side by side, and in some cases even hand in hand.

Once, for example, children were regarded as little more than their parents' property, to be worked or beaten or even sold at the parents' whim. Today, animals are still considered property, and crimes against them are often treated as "destruction of property" rather than as "acts of cruelty."

With increasing awareness of the devastating consequences of animal abuse, however, there is a reason to hope these laws and attitudes will change-just as they changed with respect to the rights of women and children.

Twenty years ago, no shelters for battered women existed; today, more than 2,000 support programs exist. Tomorrow, that same protection may be extended, at long last, to battered pets as well

Shelters Making A Difference

Tamara Barnes' abusive husband tortured her cats in an effort to threaten her. If she could have found a safe haven for her pets, she believes she would have left her abuser much sooner. But at the time, no such haven existed.

Now it does. Determined to channel her anger into "something positive," Tamara set out to find a way for battered women to leave their abusers and take their pets to safety as well. She contacted the Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Ore. And found a responsive ear in director Kimball Lewis, who also was searching for a way to help abuse victims and their pets. Six months later, in February 1997, the humane society launched what may be the first program of its kind: a safe haven for battered pets.

While women seek help through social service programs and safe houses, their pets will receive housing, care and emergency health services at the shelter and through a network of confidential foster homes. Though the program is no longer unique, Lewis claims its services are still among the most extensive. There's no limit on how long a pet can remain in the shelter or with a foster home, and the program will accept pets of all sizes, including horses.

In May, 1997, a similar program was launched in the San Francisco Bay area by the Peninsula Humane Society and Burlingame's Center for Domestic Violence Prevention. The "Safe Pets" program offers a minimum of two weeks' care, including veterinary care and emergency services. This period may be extended if the owner needs more time to find a new home.

Other shelters in the Bay Area have quietly offered such services, but have been reluctant to publicize them because of concern that the batterer may locate the pet and use it as leverage against the victim. In a community property state, a pet may be considered as belonging equally to the victim and to the batterer; theoretically, either person could claim the pet from the shelter.

Safe Pets has resolved this problem by developing a contract that appoints the shelter as the pet's legal custodian, and that transfers ownership of the pet to the humane society if the woman is unable to find a new home for the pet or doesn't return for it. Safe Pets and Greenhill also ensure the victim's anonymity.

No one wants to leave a loved one behind in a dangerous environment. Now, thanks to the cooperative efforts of social agencies and shelters like these, many women won't have to.

Editor's Note: If you suspect someone you know is becoming abusive toward animals or people, seek counseling in the "social services" section of your local phone book. If finances are tight, consider nondenominational counseling services with groups such as Catholic Charities.

If You're A Victim

Is violence destroying your life? If so, take these steps to regain control:

• Don't ignore the signs of abuse. Remember abuse doesn't "go away" by itself, instead, it generally becomes more dangerous over time.
• Don't accept excuses for violent or abusive behavior. Abuse is wrong; it is never "deserved." In particular, don't accept excuses that blame the victim: 'If the animal/child/partner would just behave better, I wouldn't have to do this."
• Don't imagine that if you (or your child or pet) could just "try harder" or "do better," the abuse would stop. It won't. Changing yourself won't change your abuser. It will only demonstrate to the abuser that violence works.
• Don't believe promises that "things will change" or that it won't happen again. Unless the perpetrator takes active steps (such as counseling) to deal with the problem, it will only get worse.
• Don't be lulled by emotional apologies. Remember, this is a person who acts upon the emotion of the moment. The perpetrator may feel (and act) genuinely sorry now-but that won't prevent him from acting upon feelings of anger later.
• Don't allow yourself to become isolated. Stay in contact with friends and family members, and seek support from agencies and support groups trained to deal with abusive situations. "Don't think you can get out of this alone," says Tamara Barnes. "You need as much support as you can gather."
• Locate resources and agencies. Organizations in your area can help you with support, counseling, pet care and other services. Make arrangements to provide for your pets if you are forced to leave your home.
• Don't wait. You may think things will get better by themselves. They won't.