Kentucky and Washington are the latest states to define coercive-control animal abuse as domestic and dating violence, and to include pets in protection-from-abuse orders. Judicial officials in Delaware are considering how to implement cross-reporting, pet protection orders and questions about pets in initial screenings. Louisiana’s animal shelters need to make Link-based improvements. And new guidances from the UK, US and Canada help veterinarians respond to suspected domestic violence and animal abuse. All this – and much more – is in your May LINK-Letter, which you can read by clicking here:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and The Link
– Kentucky calls coercive animal abuse domestic and dating violence, implements pet protective orders
– Washington adds threat to pets to definition of domestic violence crimes
– Arizona Humane Society gets $700,000 grant to help pet survivors of domestic violence
– New York’s Urban Resource Institute gets $65,000 grant for pet park at domestic violence shelter
– US Office of Victims of Crimes announces $3,500,000 in grants for survivors and pets
CRIMINAL JUSTICE and The Link
– Delaware judges and legislators addressing Link issues
ELDER ABUSE and The Link
– Houston collaboration to help vulnerable adults and animals
VETERINARY MEDICINE and The Link
– UK Link guidance expands focus on suspected domestic violence
– Canadian Veterinary Journal reviews animal abuse reporting issues
– Six-step process for responding to suspected abuse published
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS and The Link
– Participants sought for research study on AAT with abused youths
The Link in THE LITERATURE
– ASPCA offering seed grants on cruelty research and psychological trauma
– Latin American Link review calls for One Health/One Welfare work
– Australian study reports high correlations of animal abuse and IPV
– Trauma-informed practice for animal shelters similar to child abuse/domestic violence workers
ANIMAL SHELTERS and The Link
– Audit of Louisiana’s shelters cites needs for Link-based improvements
Raising LINK AWARENESS
– 6-part webinar series introduces humane and human services to each other
– “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” webcast features The Link
LINK LEGISLATION
We’re watching an amazing 141 bills that have already been introduced in state legislatures and Congress – 8 of which have already been signed into law.
THE LINK IN THE NEWS…
– Physical therapist gets 4 life sentences for killing family and dog
– New Jersey man faces prison for killing ex’s pets
– Foster parents and abusive teen convicted in child’s murder
– Iowa man charged with killing cats to torture his girlfriend
– 3 people and family dog killed in apparent murder-suicide
– Woman accused of using cat to scratch girlfriend’s face
– 3 charged in shooting dog that attacked their duck
– Ex-con charged with child & animal porn and weapons offenses
– Texas man charged murdering neighbor over stray dog complaint
– Accused man re-arrested for allegedly drowning puppies
– Minnesota murder-suicide claims 4 family members and dog
– Sheriff seeks suspect in rape and shooting her dog as they escaped
– Florida men jailed for “atrocious” child and animal pornography
… plus 26 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES where you can learn more about how animal abuse is a sentinel indicator and predictor of human violence.
Please share the issue with your colleagues and send me your news and names of any associates who would also like to receive The LINK-Letter. Thanks for helping us to make a difference in protecting vulnerable people, animals and communities.
Phil Arkow, Coordinator
The National LINK Coalition –
The National Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence
16 Grasshopper Drive
Etowah, NC 28729
828-595-9750
As a survivor in New york we desperately need this.
I hope it comes soon for your area.