Pets are part of the family in the majority of American households, where nearly three-fourths of families with school-age children have at least one companion animal. These animals are often treated like members of the family, but if the family is experiencing violence, they can become targets as well. Abusive family members may threaten, injure or kill pets, often as way of threatening or controlling others in the family.
A study conducted by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that 70% of animal abusers had committed at least one other criminal offense and almost 40% of animal abusers committed violent crimes against people (Arluke, Levin & Luke, 1997).
A 1997 survey of 50 of the largest shelters for battered women in 49 states and the District of Columbia found 85.4% of women and 63% of children entering the shelter talked about incidents of pet abuse in the family. Eighty-three percent of shelter indicated that they have observed the coexistence of domestic violence and pet abuse, but only 27% included questions relating to pet abuse in their intake interviews (Ascione, 1997).
In 1995, the Community Coalition Against Violence in LaCrosse, Wisconsin surveyed 72 women at 12 domestic violence prevention centers. Of these, 86% had pets in the home and 80% of them reported that their batterers had been violent to their animals. (Quinlisk, 1995).
In a similar survey of 38 women at a safehouse in Utah found that 74% had pets in the home and 71% of these reported that an animal had been threatened, harmed or killed by their abuser (Ascione, 1995).
A larger survey of 101 women in the same state found almost identical results, with 72% of the pet-owning women reporting that an animal had been threatened, harmed or killed by their abuser. Nearly 20% of the women reported that they had delayed leaving their abuser out of fear that a pet would be harmed if they were to do so (Ascione, 1997).
Data collected during a five-month period in 1997 at the Women’s Community Association in Albuquerque, New Mexico found 50% of domestic violence cases also included animal abuse.
In a national survey of more than 1000 households conducted in December of 1996 by Penn and Schoen Inc. for The Humane Society of the United States, 15% of respondents said that they or a family member had been the victim of family violence. In those cases where it was known that a pet was part of the household, 23% reported that the animal had been threatened, injured or killed. In addition, 32% said they knew of a friend or co-worker who was the victim of family violence and, in those cases where pets were in the home, 18% said that it had been reported that an animal had been threatened, injured or killed.
A preliminary HSUS survey of 401 press reports of serious animal cruelty cases occurring in 1996 revealed that 29% of these reports also included accounts of violence against people. The majority of these cases involved male perpetrators and of these, 28% included incidents of domestic abuse, 27% involved child abuse and 16% reported murder or assaults.
First Strike Campaign
The Humane Society of the United States
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Washington, DC 20037
1.888.213.0956 Fax 301.258.3074
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