The Cycle of Violence

"The Cycle of Violence" was coined in 1979 by American psychologist, Lenore Edna Walker, who founded the Domestic Violence Institute. She interviewed 1,500 women who were domestic violence survivors and consequently wrote the book The Battered Woman, for which she won the Distinguished Media Award. 

She found that poor parenting was handed down to the next generation, who replicated what they had experienced as children, upon their own children. While her work has been criticised as simplistic, it has nonetheless been the catalyst for broader awareness and greater research into domestic violence.  

The Cycle of Violence and Animals

Since then, the Cycle of Violence has been extended out, linking child abuse, domestic abuse, elder abuse, and animal abuse. A study published in 1983, was one of the first to address the link between child abuse and animal abuse. The researchers discovered that 88% of homes with physically abused children also included abuse or neglect of the family pet [1]. It is agreed in western countries, that the link between violence to animals in a household (Zoosadism) should be a red flag of concern for children and others in that environment. While obviously not always the case, it must be noted that many notorious serial killers enjoyed torturing animals when they were children, and that includes Australia’s Martin Bryant who, although coming from a loving home unlike most serial killers, did harm and torture animals and hurt younger children [2].

Children who abuse animals are two to three times more likely to have been victims of child abuse. Like a dreadful lineage, children are physically and emotionally abused by the person or people who should be protecting them. In turn, children often turn to the next most vulnerable - defenceless animals - acting out the very behaviour they have endured. Equally, it can be said that some children, who are subjected to these appalling treatments, turn to their dog or cat for comfort, to speak to, and to love. Abusers often use the family animal companion to control their partners and children by threats to kill that animal, hence many stay with their abusers [3, 4]. 

The History

The relationship between animal abuse and other criminal behaviours was recognized, long before the evolution of the social sciences and institutions with which we now address such behaviours. In 1751, William Hogarth was distressed by the routine acts of cruelty he witnessed on the streets of London and engraved “The Four Stages of Cruelty”. The four engravings follow the life path of the fictional Tom Nero. Stage 1 depicts Tom as a boy, torturing a dog, Stage 2 Tom is a thief, Stage 3 he has murdered a person, and in Stage 4, Tom was killed and his body is being dissected in an anatomical theatre [5]. All depictions by the artist were personally seen by him.          

The Research

Significant research has documented a relationship between childhood histories of animal cruelty and patterns of chronic interpersonal aggression. Since the early 60s, it has been widely accepted that there is a connection between animal cruelty and future violence toward people. This connection has been evident in a range of studies. Walton-Moss, and their fellow researchers, despite not originally focusing on animal abuse, found that “that animal abuse was a significant variable and was one of only four factors associated with becoming a batterer” [6]. Levin and Arluke (2009) dove further in and discovered that a certain type of animal cruelty likely foreshadows sadistic serial killer behaviour. “Torturing animals in an up-close and personal way, especially animals like dogs and cats that have been heavily anthropomorphized in our culture, is a more apt red flag of this form of extreme violence than is everyday animal abuse” [7].

For these reasons, J.D Allie Phillips Juris, a prosecuting attorney for animal abuse, believes that “those who harm, torture and kill animals for sadistic pleasure or control have few boundaries and should be considered very dangerous” [8 PDF].

The Statistics

According to the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, 76% of animal abusers also abuse a family member [9].  

A study in 1998 found that of battered women with children who sought shelter in a safe house, 32% reported that their children had hurt or killed a family pet [10].

A study conducted in 2002 of inmates at the Utah Department of Corrections, found that over 55% had actually harmed or killed pets while living with an adult partner, and 50% had harmed or killed pets in general. When harming an animal was involved, the rate of intimate-partner violence generally increased [11]. 

One study, published in 2003, found that 62% to 76% of animal cruelty in the home occurs in front of children [12]. Further studies found that children will try to intervene to protect their mothers from being battered and some may even allow themselves to be victimized to save their pets from being harmed or killed [13]. Other studies have documented on the adverse, long-term impacts on the brain of developing children and their health, after being exposed to violence, including violence to animals.

A 2007 study found that 67% of children residing in family violence shelters reported witnessing abuse of their family pet, almost 60% of children were very upset about the harm to their pet(s), and 37% of the shelter children progressed to harming or killing pets [14].  

In 2012 a New Zealand study was conducted to look at the co-existence of family violence and animal cruelty [15 PDF]. They found that abusing animals creates a culture of normalized violence while harming people, abusers gain a perverse satisfaction from hurting pets to instil fear in family members, animal cruelty was a punishment for unwanted behaviour from people, done out of jealousy of the relationship between the animal and human victims, and they used threats to animals to keep people with them, to prevent them from leaving.

Companion Animals give people a reason to live

For women who are abused, and often socially isolated by their abuser, a companion animal could save their lives. A 2007 study looked at how pets can be a protective factor for abused women and found that it was the fear for the pet’s safety along with the pet providing social support that allowed women to cope with the abuse, not end their lives, and ultimately get to safety [16]. The researcher, Fitzgerald, concluded that “Pets are uniquely situated to provide social support to some abused women and can even serve a protective function against suicidality. In order to adequately address the needs of abused women, particularly related to suicidality, the important role of pets can play in their lives must be taken seriously and, ideally, fostered” [17].

Unfortunately, cruelty to animals can continue after an abusive relationship has ended. For example, threats to harm the animal(s) left behind, or they can be actually harmed to animals, as punishment for the person leaving. In some cases, the person will harm the animals of friends and family out of retaliation for the person leaving. 

Supporting Veterinarians

Veterinarians are killing themselves at four times the rate of other Australians for a number of reasons. Their workload is just too overwhelming and many are on call 24/7. Much of it stems from bullying and threats by people who do not want to pay their bills. Some have received death threats and calls from people saying they will kill the animal if not treated without payment. 

On top of all these challenges, we are also asking them to report violence to animals being presented for what are obviously deliberate injuries. It is important we do all we can to support vets. Being on the end of violent social media and other attacks may cause vets to be hesitant to bring the police and social workers into the family of the abuser to check on the wellbeing of children and others in that environment. Keyboard terrorists must be called to account.

In 2018 Melbourne University hosted a program uniting veterinarians and domestic violence workers. This event also highlighted the brilliant work being done by Anna Ludvik and her organisation Lucy’s Project. University of Melbourne School of Health Sciences Senior Research Fellow Kristin Diemer said the conference would raise awareness of how the domestic violence sector and veterinarians can support each other [18].

Breaking the Cycle

Researchers at the Monash Injury Research Institute (MIRI) have recently completed a pilot study that used animals, such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as therapists to teach children who have experienced domestic violence situations empathy and coping skills. Dr Neerosh Mudaly, a Senior Research Fellow said repeated experiences of gentle, calming contact with small animals in a safe environment appears – from the pilot study – to have had a dramatic effect in helping children heal from abuse and violence. “It may also help break the cycle of violence and abuse that these children may carry into adolescence and adulthood” [19].

Case study:

In the research paper, Dr Neerosh Mudaly talks of one five-year-old girl who witnessed terrible violence towards her mother when the child was injured during one of these episodes. “When she came into the program she was mute, did not speak for months and would not leave her mother’s side,” Dr Mudaly said. The first words she spoke were to a guinea pig in the animal therapy program: “what’s your name?” A year later Dr Mudaly saw the child again. “She was flicking her long hair, talking about how she might work with animals when she grew up. She had so much to say and would not stop talking,” Dr Mudaly said.

Peanuts Wellbeing Sanctuary’s Mission

At Peanuts Well-being Sanctuary, our direction is to “Break the Cycle of Abuse” for children and animals. This is achieved by joining our rescued animals with children from dysfunctional, neglected and abusive backgrounds to nurture and aid in the understanding of empathy and compassion toward others.

By helping the children at their level it stems their behaviour as they grow into adults to prevent them from venting their anger and frustrations on helpless animals and their peers. This helps them understand that violence is not the answer and in turn leads them away from bullying, domestic violence and a life of crime. Our initiative leads to a better life for all children, adults, animals and for the communities in which we all live.

Tracey Keenan set up Peanuts Wellbeing Sanctuary a few years ago. Since then, Peanuts have welcomed abused and neglected children and animals into their home. They have turned the lives of all around in positive and loving ways and advocate a vegan lifestyle. For more of their work, you can visit their website here.

Changing the system

Thankfully, the system is acknowledging the connection between human and animal abuse. Cross-referecning between law enforcement, animal protection personnel, and social service organisations, means that we are able to track, record, prevent, and hopefully break the cycle of violence. Organisations and groups are starting to question and care for animals who are also experiencing violence. Child and adult protective service workers link their observations with animal control officers when performing home visits, because they know that where animals are at risk, people often are at risk and vice versa, and domestic violence programs are beginning to query about pets and provide shelter for at-risk families and their pets. Veterinarians are also being trained in forensic pathology to determine the cause of death and preservation of evidence for prosecution purposes. Law enforcement officers are learning about the often extensive histories of crimes against society committed by persons who also abuse animals, while prosecutors are putting increased emphasis on animal abuse crimes because they understand that the behaviour that harms the animal is the same behaviour that harms humans. Together, these organisations and groups are protecting the health and wellbeing of children, adults, and animals.

Australia

Earlier this year, Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Mark Speakman, said the protection of animals will now be a standard Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) condition after reforms passed Parliament in November.

“Perpetrators often use animals to coerce or control victims, threatening to hurt or kill pets to keep them in a relationship or as punishment for leaving… This cruelty and manipulation can leave victims terrified of the consequences for their beloved animals and can therefore delay or prevent them from leaving a violent situation. These reforms aim to help guard against this abhorrent form of abuse.”

Amendments to the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 will:

• change the definition of ‘intimidation’ to indicate explicitly that harm to, or harm threatened to, animals is a form of intimidation. (Intimidation is an existing criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment); and,

• prohibit harm to animals as a standard condition in all ADVOs and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders.

Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, the state’s leading organisation for specialist domestic violence services, acknowledges that pets are an integral part of some people’s lives, and perpetrators often use them to gain control with threats to kill or hurt animals.

In addition, the NSW Government has invested $500,000 in the Pets and Animal Welfare Support (PAWS) Grants Program. The funds have been awarded to 19 women’s refuges and animal welfare organisations across NSW, enabling them to better support companion animals and victims escaping domestic violence.

The United States

“The link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence is becoming so well established that many U.S. communities now cross-train social-service and animal-control agencies in how to recognize signs of animal abuse as possible indicators of other abusive behaviours. In Illinois and several other states, new laws mandate that veterinarians notify the police if their suspicions are aroused by the condition of the animals they treat. The state of California recently added Humane Society and animal-control officers to the list of professionals bound by law to report suspected child abuse and is now considering a bill in the State Legislature that would list animal abusers on the same type of online registry as sex offenders and arsonists” [20].

Throughout the United States, over 100 “safe haven” programs have been put into place that help shelters collaborate with local animal organizations to find a safe place for the victim’s animals. These laws, with the added support of local government agencies and shelters, will provide the necessary level of protection for animals who are also victims of domestic abuse” [21].

Learn more

For additional reading, one of the finest books on this subject is “Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention” co-authored by Dr Frank Ascione.

Dr. Frank Ascione is Professor and American Humane Endowed Chair at the University of Denver (DU) Graduate School of Social Work. He is also Executive Director of the School’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection. Dr. Ascione received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University in 1969 and his doctoral degree in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973. He is a prolific author of many books around this subject. Ascione has collaborated with human services, social work, and child development staff working with abused children, with youth corrections personnel, and with state shelters for women who are battered. His work has been supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, the Scott Charitable Trust, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Dr. Ascione has provided information or testimony for the state legislatures of Utah, Ohio, Colorado, Tennessee, and Washington, regarding cruelty to animal’s legislation [22].

How you can help

The link between animal cruelty and family violence is important because it allows authorities to look at the data to see where animal cruelty crimes occur most frequently, which can in turn help prevent or stop family abuse. Majority (68%) of animal cruelty crimes do, in fact, occur at a home or residential setting. Therefore, it is especially important to the health and welfare of all human family members to pay attention to reports of animal cruelty in the community. When one recognizes that these reports could be the tip of the iceberg for what else might be going on at that home, one realizes why calls to animal control about an abused dog or cat could help law enforcement identify situations where other crimes either have occurred or are likely to occur in the future” [23].

If you need help

If you are in need of help, please reach out to the following groups and organisations.

https://www.lucysproject.com/

https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/Find-Help/Help-Lines *For all genders facing domestic violence

https://www.dvconnect.org/home/pets-in-crisis/

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/keeping-your-pet-safe-when-escaping-domestic-violence/11751300