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BCIFV
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2003 articles
A Partnership to End Violence Against All Family Members
Penny Bain
Barely a month goes by that the news media doesn’t
carry an item regarding cruelty to animals—yet those
cases that are reported reflect only the most extreme abuse.
Barely a week goes by that the news media doesn’t report
on the murder by one family member of another—yet those
stories only scratch the surface of the family violence that
occurs daily in communities throughout BC, Canada, and the
world.
What’s reported less often is that cruelty to animals
can be a signpost of violence in families; and, conversely,
where family violence occurs, abuse and/or neglect of animals
is common. This is particularly true for certain kinds of
animal abuse, abuse that is an extension of the power and
control dynamics common to violence against women and children
and that constitutes a direct or symbolic threat to victims.
For example, an abuser might harm or kill a family pet in
front of victims as a way of demonstrating what could happen
to them; or an abuser might threaten to hurt a family pet
if the victims were to tell anyone about the abuse or try
to leave. In fact, concern for the well-being of family pets
is one of many reasons women give for not fleeing abusive
situations sooner.
In addition, it has been noted that—perhaps because
people are less reticent about reporting animal abuse or neglect
than they are about ‘interfering’ in family ssues—animal-welfare
authorities are often the first agents to appear on the scene
where family violence is occurring. With training, this could
enable them to alert authorities to abuse of vulnerable humans
within a home. Likewise, when police or child-protection authorities
are called upon to intervene in people-abuse, training and
awareness could improve their ability to see to the needs
of the animals in the household.
In light of these realities, the BC Society for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals has spearheaded a partnership with the
BC Veterinary Medical Association, Victim Services Division
of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, BCIFV,
Vancouver City Police Criminal Harassment Division, BC/Yukon
Society of Transition Houses, and the UBC Schools of Social
Work, Family Studies, and Nursing. Representing some of the
most significant players in BC in the areas of family violence
and animal welfare, these partners are well positioned to
educate their constituents about the links between these two
types of violence, and appropriate actions to be taken to
prevent violence and assist its victims, both animal and human.
The project has three components and three goals:
- Communication: To nurture awareness among members of
the general public, victim-serving organizations, and the
animal-welfare community, the SPCA has collaborated with
partners to produce and distribute three pamphlets. These
pamphlets provide comprehensive infor-mation about the problem
and suggest actions that average people can take to prevent
violence and assist its victims.
- Coalition Building and Cross Training: To create an infrastructure
of support, the partners are building a coalition of stakeholder
groups that will provide mutual training on family violence
and animal welfare, better positioning them to share information,
raise awareness, and deal with the issues at a frontline
level.
- Establish and Refine Protocols: Women and children fleeing
violence need to know that their pets will be cared for
and protected. BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses has
provided training materials for staff in transition homes
and recruited foster homes to care for the animals anonymously
in the community.
The goal of the BCIFV is to end family violence. The goal
of the BC SPCA is to end cruelty to animals. Given the connections
between these issues, it’s hard to imagine a more compatible
partnership.
REFERENCES
Neuman, Paula (2003) Humane Education Supervisor, BC SPCA.
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