What is the "link"?

The “Link” is the phrase used to identify the connection between animal abuse and violence towards people such as partner, elder and child abuse. Empirical research (e.g., Ascione, 1999; Deviney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983) demonstrates this bi-directional link. Animal abuse may, and frequently does, precede and/or accompany human abuse and may be used to exert power and control over victims. Children, in particular, who even witness animal abuse, may be at risk for multiple maladaptive outcomes, including the perpetuation of animal abuse itself. An interesting, but chilling, note that clearly defines one of the outcomes of the “Link”: Virtually every serial killer admits to having abused animals as a child before perpetrating escalated violence onto human victims. The following statistics, compiled by The Humane Society of the United States’ First Strike Campaign, illustrate the connection between animal abuse and human violence:

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that in 1996 there were 9.1 million violent crimes in the United States.

A 1997 study by the MSPCA and Northeastern University found that 70% of animal abusers had committed at least one other criminal offense and almost 40% had committed violent crimes against people.

A 1986 study reported that 48% of convicted rapists and 30% of convicted child molesters admitted perpetrating acts of animal cruelty in their childhood or adolescence (Tingle et al., 1986)

A history of animal abuse was found in 25% of aggressive male criminals, 30% of convicted child molesters, 36% of those who assaulted women and 46% of those convicted of sexual homicide (Petrovoski, 1997).

Animal Cruelty & Domestic Violence:

Every 15 seconds a woman is battered (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence).
In 3 surveys in women's shelters in WI and UT in the late 1990's, an average of 74% of pet-owning women reported that a pet had been threatened, injured or killed by their abuser (Ascione 1995 & 1997 and Quinlisk, 1995).
The Buffalo, NY police department and the SPCA of Erie County found that 1/3 of the residences with animal abuse complaints also had domestic violence complaints (1998).
A survey of women in a safehouse in UT found that 20% delayed leaving the abusive situation out of fear that their pet would be harmed. Data currently being collected in Canada found almost 50% delayed leaving (Ascione, 1997).
The 1995 UT survey also found that children witnessed the animal abuse in over 60% of the cases and 32% of women reported that one or more of their children hurt or killed a pet.

Animal Cruelty & Child Abuse

In 1991, the United States Board on Child Abuse and Neglect released a report indicating that more than 2.5 million American children are suffering from abuse and neglect.
A 1983 survey in NJ of families reported for child abuse found that in 88% of the families at least one person had abused animals (DeViney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983).
The NJ study also found that in 2/3 of these cases, the abusive parent had injured or killed a pet and in 1/3 of the cases, children were the animal abusers.
A study by the Royal SPCA in Great Britain found that 83% of families with a history of animal abuse had also been identified by social service agencies as at-risk for child.