Juvenile animal abuse: Practice and policy implications for PNPs

Intimate partner violence and companion animal welfare

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on companion animal welfare.

DESIGN

Self-selected telephone survey of people meeting the criteria.

METHODS

Members of the Australian public with experience of IPV and concurrent companion animal ownership were invited to telephone a researcher for a semi-structured interview.

RESULTS

In total, 26 Australian women reported one or more companion animals in the household being verbally and/or physically abused by their male partner, usually with prolonged effects on animal behaviour; 92% indicated that they had been unwilling to discuss the animal abuse with a veterinarian. Many were unaware of animal accommodation services for people fleeing violence and those who did know about these were unwilling to use them, citing their bond with the animals as the main reason. Animals targeted for abuse were most likely to be dogs and owned by women rather than men, children or both partners.

CONCLUSION

Animals can be severely affected by domestic violence situations and many people experiencing violence are unwilling to confide in veterinarians or seek help from animal shelters.

Children's mental health emergencies-part 3: special situations: child maltreatment, violence, and response to disasters

OBJECTIVE

Children may be exposed to or even be the victims of a violent situation, or a disaster, and the likelihood of a child's exposure to a violent situation or a disaster is increasing.

METHODS

A review of the literature was done to address key mental health issues occurring with child maltreatment, violence in the home, community, in the emergency department, and disasters.

RESULTS

Although pediatric mental health issues regarding violence, disasters, and child maltreatment have often been overlooked or unrecognized, the consequences for the child in such situations can be devastating. However, recognition and appropriate treatment can favorably impact the child's recovery from exposure to such violent events or disasters.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognition and early intervention to address the mental health issues of children in violent situations or disasters can help ameliorate the negative psychological sequelae of such events. The importance of providing mental health and social services to children exposed to disasters was recognized by the Pediatric Institute of Medicine Report.

The relationship between intimate partner violence and other forms of family and societal violence

Intimate partner violence was previously considered a private matter sometimes requiring law enforcement intervention. It is increasingly accepted as not only a medical issue for the victim, but a public and safety issue. Some of these other related issues, including unplanned pregnancy, same-sex relationships, overlap with elder, child, and animal abuse, and effects on workplace and school violence are explored. Screening, medical manifestations, documentation, reporting intervention, and referral are also discussed.