| |
A conference on 12 February 2001 in Leicester, jointly organized
by the NSPCC and RSPCA explored the connexion between the
abuse of animals and violence to people. Examples of research
in the USA and UK were presented. Dr Randall Lockwood, Vice-President
of the Human Society of the US described a shift in thinking
so that cruelty to animals was now recognized as one of the
diagnostic indicators for human conduct disorders - from a
"property crime" (destruction of property including
animals)- to being considered as "violence against others,"
including animals. Further, of all the symptoms associated
with conduct disorders, cruelty to animals had the earliest
age of onset. It usually became evident at around 7 years
of age. He cited instances in which families with records
of cruelty to children were also known for cruelty to animals;
families suspected of child abuse often had more pets than
the average family living in the same area; and these families
had a fast turnover of pets, very few of the animals in these
homes being over 2 years of age. Separation and loss were
words common in these families when asked about their pets.
Pets were found to have injured a family member in almost
70% of homes with evidence of animal and child abusing. Retaliations
involving animals, children, and parents were initiating factors
in outbreaks of violence and cruelty.
- Families with records of cruelty to children were also
known for cruelty to animals.
- Families suspected of child abuse often had more pets
than average.
- These families had a fast turnover of pets and very few
of the animals in these homes being over 2 years old.
Nearly 5% of parents of "normal" children replied
yes when asked if their children, with an age range of 4 to
12 years, were sometimes or often cruel to animals. This figure
rose to over 25% when parents of physically abused children
were asked or to 13% for children who had been sexually abused.
Of children both sexually and physically abused 34% were described
by parents as sometimes or often cruel to animals. Dr Lockwood
said that in the USA it was considered that 75% of women living
in shelters had pets at home and of these 70% had had a pet
actually killed by their abuser.
Mr Chris Laurence, chief veterinary officer and director
of veterinary services at the RSPCA, spoke of difficulties
in detecting much of the abuse. He agreed that most of the
known abuse involved animals younger than 2 years, with no
predilection in cats as to breed or gender. On the other hand
70% of dogs involved in cases of abuse were male, Staffordshire
bull terriers and mongrels being at a moderately increased
involvement, while Labradors were underrepresented. Mr Laurence's
observations applied to dogs and cats and their owners, and
he indicated to vets the signs they could see in the interactions
between the owner and his or her animal and the telltale types
of wound or injury.
Dr Camille de san Lazaro, a consultant paediatrician at the
Royal Victoria Infirmary and senior lecturer in paediatric
forensic medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
offered doctors similar advice on causes, motives, and symptoms
in children whom they might be called upon to treat. She mentioned
many studies of "triad behaviour," that is, of bedwetting,
fire setting, and cruelty to animals that may predict criminality
and violence in the future.
A study of battered pets and sexual abuse described in the
journal of Small Animal Practice (2001, 42, 333 to 337), involved
448 cases of non-accidental injuries to small animals reported
by a random sample of practitioners, of which 28 were sexual
in nature; 21 dogs, 5 cats, and 2 unspecified species were
identified. The evidence was based on the types of injury,
behaviour of owners, statements by witnesses and confessions.
There were penetrative vaginal and anorectal injuries, perianal
damage, and trauma to the genitals. Some of the violations,
such as castration, were extreme and some fatal. No damage
was reported in some. The cases resembled the symptoms of
child abuse recorded in human forensic pathology.
VEGA wonders how many parents explain the rapine and cruelty
that hangs over the steak, burger or fishfinger on the plate.
A love of animals means much more of chumminess than a yumminess
of fried, roasted and grilled mortal remains from the kitchen
or restaurant. The RSPCA and NSPCC overlooked this challenge,
which many children perceive against parenteral indifference.
<<
PAGE TOP >>
|
|
