The proof of the Link in figures in Spain

The
Group for the Study of Violence against Humans and Animals (GEVHA),
founded in 2000, develops educational programs for the prevention of
violence against humans and animals, for the promotion of empathy and
for the resolution of conflict. The GEVHA website centralises the
information. GEVHA recently gave rise to the Monitoring of Violence against Animals.

Forty-six
cases of domestic violence were studied: 89.13% of the victims were
women and 10.87% were men. The coexistence between interpersonal
violence and animal abuse was found in 93.33% of cases.

A
wide variety of types of violence has been observed, and among the
most common:

• hitting: 57.14%,

• killing: 19%,

• negligence: 23.81%,

• burns: 2.4%,

• verbal abuse (screaming
  and terrorizing the animal): 66.67%,

• tethered animals: 4.8%,

• suffocation: 2.4%,

• drowning: 2.4%,

• shooting at an animal:
  7.1%.

66,76 %

are verbal abuse

57,14 %

violence by beating

23,81 %

suffering negligence of humans

In
studying the identity of the authors, it was determined that it was

• adult
  males (the father) in 81.4% of cases,
• adult
  females (the mother) in 2.33% of cases, 
•  boys
  in 4.65% of cases,
• girls
  in 11.63% of cases
• another
  parent in 2.33% of cases.

Previous
research has shown that some victims spontaneously reported that
their pet had developed behavioural problems related to violent acts
and that this contributed to the suffering of the victim who did not
know how to help his animal. For this research, we asked specific
questions about behavioural disorders (phobias, aggressiveness,
enuresis): these disorders were admitted by 19,23% of the victims. In
7 cases, we had to urgently find a shelter for pets, which was
possible thanks to our cooperation with the Freedom Paws Link project
(SAF-T Program partner).

For
30 years, researchers and professionals in various human services and
animal welfare activities have established significant interactions
between animal abuse, violence and neglect of children, domestic
violence, abuse of the elderly and other forms of violence.

Animal
abuse is no longer viewed as isolated incidents that can be ignored:
it is often an indicator or warning that other household members are
not safe. A link has also been established between animal abuse and
violent offenses as well as personality disorders.

In
Spain, two police services, the Polinyà and Castelló (UPROMA) local
police, have specifically included animal abuse in their protocols as
part of the risk assessment in the context of domestic violence and
child abuse. Animal abuse is also considered as a risk factor for
offenses. Both services participate in research with health
professionals, and a correlation with animal abuse was found in 93%
of the 46 cases of domestic violence studied. Both services also
provide emergency shelter for animals through a partnership with the
Freedom Paws Link project.

Sources

23 Querol, N. et al., Preliminary results of the DOMPET study for shelters in Spain and LatinAmerica. Livre des résumés du IIe congrès international de l’Advanced High School of Criminological Sciences – CRINVE 2013. ISBN 978-88-97378-02-0. http://obsviolenciaanimal.org/…