Volume 13, Number 1, 2006 Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia heia Home Economics Institute of Australia inc The wellbeing of individuals and families in the near environment
Journal of the HELA Vol 13, No. 1, 2006 Domestic violence, child abuse and companion animal harm: Service provision Nicola Taylor, PhD, Tania Signal, PhD & Tanja Stark orrespondence to: r. Nicola Taylor chool of Psychology and ociology entral Queensland University ockhampton QLD 4702 ustralia el: +61 07 4930 9433 mail: n taylor@cqu.edu.au Abstract This paper addresses the link between domestic violence, child abuse and companion animal harm by firstly presenting the results of a study that investigated family service provider perspectives on this link. The results showed that there is a general awareness of this link amongst family service providers and, furthermore, that there is general support amongst this community for a service aimed at specifically addressing this issue. The paper then moves on to discuss the results of a pilot program, Pets in Crisis, which fosters the companion animals of women seeking refuge from domestic violence. Introduction In a previous paper we posited a theoretical link between interpersonal violence and cruelty to animals based on the responses of 598 members of the general community. The results of that questionnaire showed that those with an elevated level of aggression had a tendency to also have less positive attitudes towards the treatment of animals. It was suggested that deliberate cruelty to animals may well be an overlooked window into the cycle of familial abuse (Taylor & Signal, 2004). Becker and French (2004) identify four different themes that research into such 'links' has identified. They are, firstly, animal abuse as part of the continuum of abuse within the family; secondly, animal abuse by children who later show aggressive and/or anti-social behaviours; thirdly, animal abuse as an indicator of child abuse, and, lastly, the potential for animal-based therapy with abused children. Regarding the first 'link,' research has consistently shown that there is a link between domestic violence and companion animal cruelty (Adams, 1996; Flynn, 2000). For example, numerous studies show that 2 women choose to remain in, or significantly delay leaving, violent relationships due to concern for the welfare of their companion animals. This may be their own concern for their pets' welfare or concern over the emotional bond that their children have with their pets (Ascione, Weber & Wood, 1997). In such situations, companion animals are often used as coercive devices against either the women concerned or their children-see, for example, Ascione (1998). Recognition of such links may have particular relevance to the family violence and child abuse fields in both conceptual and practical terms. Conceptually it allows theorizing about the nature of interconnected oppressions between disenfranchised others such as children and animals, and practically may point the way towards interagency co-operation in both identifying and combating violence towards humans and towards animals (Taylor & Signal, 2005). It is with this latter, practical focus that this current paper is concerned. In