SECOND INTERNATIONAL TRANSDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON FAUNA PROTECTION

25 - 26 April, 2013 : Goiania, Brazil The Link: Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence The New Zealand Experience
Ian A. Robertson and A C David Bayvel

Ian A. Robertson Prosecutor, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Director, International Animal Law

A C David Bayvel: Past Chair OIE Animal Welfare Working Group Chair OIE Lab Animal ad hoc Group Past Director Animal Welfare, MAF NZ WSPA Chief Veterinary Adviser Veterinary Director International Animal Welfare Consultants Limited

The Link: Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence The New Zealand Experience
1. The Link: The research, the experiences 2. The New Zealand Experience

(Global) Governance of Animal Welfare

Sustainable and Humane uses of animals

The role of the Professional

www.animal-law.biz

The Link: The Link: Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence The issue, programs, and researchers
The issue
According to Adams by abusing animals, men are able to demonstrate their power. . . teach submission, isolate a women from a network of support. . . express rage at selfdetermined action by women and children. . . perpetuate the context of terror. . . launch a pre-emptive strike against a woman leaving... punish and terrorize by stalking and executing an animal...force her to be involved in the abuse. . . confirm their power

Propensity to violence inappropriate control Male/Female ratio The cost Private animal law The role of the veterinarian

First strike (USA) The Link (UK)

Scotland (Helen Munro) USA (Randall Lockwood) Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

The research
Frank Ascione, USA Monash University, Australia American Veterinary Medical Association (Dr Lila Millar)

The Link: The research findings

INDICATOR: When animals are abused, people are at risk.

71% of pet-owning women entering womens shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave. Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble.

The Link: The research findings

INDICATOR: When animals are abused, people are at risk.

Abusers kill, harm, or threaten childrens pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse. Disturbed children kill or harm animals to emulate their parents conduct, to prevent the abuser from killing the pet, or to take out their aggressions on another victim. 32% of pet-owning women entering womens shelters reported their children had hurt or killed animals. 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them.

The New Zealand experience

(1990) RNZSPCA (2007) Virginia Williams (2010) Ian Robertson (2011) Research by RNZSPCA
RSPCA, Womens Refuge

(2012) New Zealand Veterinary Council

Revised COPC Dedicated statement acknowledging the link Duty to report

(2013) Handbook????
Collaboration NZVC and Government (MPI)

(2008)
Williams VM, Dale AR, Clarke N, Garrett NKG New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 56, Issue 1, pp 21-28, Feb 2008
Animal abuse and family violence : Survey on the recognition of animal abuse by veterinarians in New Zealand and their understanding of the correlation between animal abuse and human violence

Deliberate animal abuse had been seen by 63% of respondents in the last 5 years; 37% of these had seen such cases once a year or less 9% had seen abuse cases at least four times a year. Dogs were the species most commonly reported as abused, followed, in numerical order, by cats, cattle and horses. Among respondents who had seen deliberate animal abuse, 16% either knew of (4%) or suspected (12%) human abuse within the families of the abused animals. A clear majority of responding veterinarians agreed with the statement that people who abuse their animals are more likely to abuse their children (77%) or spouse (70%). Responding veterinarians felt a strong ethical duty to deal with cases of animal abuse, but they were less comfortable about issues of human abuse, even though the awareness of the link between abuse of animals and abuse of humans was relatively high.

(2010)
Robertson IA New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 58, Issue 3, pp 114-120, Jun 2010

Legally protecting and compelling veterinarians in issues of animal abuse and domestic violence

In spite of the existing moral, ethical, and legal duties applied to veterinarians, they face substantial barriers that prohibit them from fulfilling their professional role in handling cases of suspected abuse. With increasing public and legal attention on issues of animal welfare, the non-fulfilment of these duties places the profession and its members at considerable risk of public criticism and adverse legal accountability. The veterinary profession in New Zealand needs to provide a clear policy statement and take pro-active measures that provide practical enforceable solutions to these existing barriers and legal risks. Such an initiative will assist in ensuring that all registered members consistently fulfil their obligations, and are legally protected while doing so. Veterinary counterparts overseas already provide a legislative immunity for their veterinarians who report suspected abuse as part of a mandated duty to report. Implementation of such a duty has significant benefits for all veterinarians, including the requirement for education and effective support systems.

(2011) Research by SPCA(NZ) Pets as Pawns: The Co-existence of Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
(Roguski 2012)

The results
In New Zealand, recent research commissioned by the Royal New Zealand SPCA together with the National Collective of Independent Womens Refuges found that one in three women surveyed reported delaying leaving violent relationships because they feared their pets and other animals would be kill or tortured. Of these, one quarter said their children had witnessed violence against animals.

Victims statements

Victims statements

(2011) Research by SPCA(NZ) Pets as Pawns: The Co-existence of Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
(Roguski 2012)

When the dogs werent behaving he would grab them and beat them. Smashing them around the head and punching them all over (Helen, rural, New Zealand European, 45 years old, three children) At one stage I actually went out and got myself a puppy and I sort of thought that it would be nice for my son and I to have this puppy. It was a cute little black one and I called it Clark. My ex-husband wasnt impressed because he was in charge of all purchases. So he went out and he came back with two of his friends and they virtually held a court as to whether I deserved to have the dog. They decided that no, I didnt deserve to have the dog and it was taken off me and he picked up the dog and the gun and went outside. So after that I never had anything to do with another animal (Cynthia, urban, New Zealand European, 55 years old, one child)

(2011) Research by SPCA(NZ) Pets as Pawns: The Co-existence of Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
(Roguski 2012)

Victims statements
He hit a bull once with a batton and knocked it out. It was in the yards and it was doing something that it shouldnt have been doing and so he grabbed a batton and knocked it across the head and dropped it (Mary, rural, New Zealand European, 19 years old, no children) A sow got away in a neighbours maze field and he let the pig dogs out to get it. They ripped the sow to shreds (Margaret, rural, New Zealand European, 24 years old, no children)

(2011) Research by SPCA(NZ) Pets as Pawns: The Co-existence of Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
(Roguski 2012)

Victims statements About five years ago we got a fish tank with tropical fish. My younger girls were afraid of the dark so instead of nightlights we had fish tanks. Every time there was an argument or things werent going his way a cup of coffee would be poured into the fish tank. On other occasions he would pour in bleach to kill the fish. So it would be a mad rush to quickly get the fish out of the tank and drain as much water out as possible. It was quite a regular occurrence. Say I had done something wrong I would come home and there would be trash in the inside of the fish tank. Yeah all sorts of chemicals, or whatever was nearby, would be thrust into the tank with all their food. Or he wouldnt allow the power to be turned on for the heater for the tropical fish so that they would die from the cold (Tania, urban, New Zealand European, 38 years old, four children)

(2011) Research by SPCA(NZ) Pets as Pawns: The Co-existence of Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
(Roguski 2012)

Victims statements
There was one woman who had to stick needles into the dog until he yelped. He made her hold the dog down and he forced her to put needles into the dog. Once the dog yelped she was able to stop. She soon learned to behave herself because she loved the dog so much. Of course this was a way of her partner controlling her without leaving a mark on her.
(Womens Refuge staff member)

(2012) New Zealand Veterinary Council

(2013) Handbook

(2012) New Zealand Veterinary Council

Revised Code of Professional Conduct Statement acknowledging the link Ethical duty to report

(2013) Publication
Collaboration NZVC and Government (MPI)

The Link: Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence The New Zealand Experience
1. The Link: The research, the experiences 2. The New Zealand Experience