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Posted on Sun, May 22, 2011 : 8:20 a.m.

Statistics suggest pet neglect is a bellwether for human domestic violence

By John Spieser

joey_summit_helens.jpg

Feeling the vibrations of Mt. St. Helens...and beyond.

Photo by everestpeaceproject.org

Despite what appears to be a recent surge in natural disasters, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 stills stands out in my mind as probably the most intense and powerful display of nature I have witnessed in my lifetime. A hundred square miles of land laid to waste, an 80,000-foot eruption plume and volcanic ash spewed over eleven states were the results of an incident that occurred in what seemed to be “a blink of an eye.”

Scientists and seismologists would confirm that the blast, as abrupt and spontaneous as it seemed, was really the result of a long chain of geological gyrations and tectonic tremors that set the stage for the devastating release of pressure from below the earth's surface.

As I ponder the co-mingling energies and inter-relationships between this earth's land, water and air, working in concert to produce unfathomable environmental calamities, I can't help but to see them as analogous to our own humanly created catastrophes...

The attention of news-perusers (like those of you reading this article) is regularly caught, horrified and dismayed by the neverending stream of stories recounting seemingly senseless acts of violence inflicted upon people, by people. The stories are especially gut wrenching when the victims are harmed by the ones who are supposed to be loving them.

A mom kills her own kids over here. A dad sexually abuses his own child over here. A guy fathers a child through an affair and “secretly” neglects both of his families; the list goes on and on.

What makes things even more unsettling to someone attempting to digest all of this “news” and possibly gain some understanding for what it means about our society is that with every story, there is a back story. And, not unlike the climactic conditions that precede a powerful discharge of energy in the natural world, the back story often reveals that things were brewing long before so-and-so snapped, erupted, quaked or spilled over the banks of acceptable behavior.

You may learn that the murderous mom was struggling with depression and unable to access health care for two years before she came un-glued. Or the delusional dad had narrowly escaped sexual abuse charges waged by an intern at the office three years before he became a danger to his own daughter.

It can leave you in tears, shaking your head and thinking, if someone had just noticed something sooner, lives could have been saved and futures preserved.

Too often, “too little too late” is how the story goes...

For the record keeping/statistic seeking society that we are, one advantage that we have afforded ourselves (thank dog) is the ability to look back and piece together the combined ingredients which promote the manifestations that then threw our day to day lives into shock.

But statistics only tell a story — they don't change the plot.

Statistics seeking to tell the story of domestic violence in America strongly suggest that our pets and the domesticated animals with whom we share our lives are intricately woven into the insidious fabric of dysfunctional family dynamics — to the extent that, with alarming frequency they are the “bellwether” for, and inevitably included in, violent acts perpetrated by and against the human family members.

If you delve deeper into this phenomenon you'll find more than a few sobering facts: here is a sample...

According to Phil Arkow and the Latham Foundation's Animal Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Project:

-Seventy one percent of pet-owning women entering abuse shelters report that their batterers threatened or ended the lives of family pets to leverage psychological control. And...

-Thirty two percent of these women report that their children were displaying abusive behavior with pets.

-More American households have pets than have children.

-A child in America is more likely to have a pet than a live-in father.

-Significant numbers of physically threatened women and children choose not to enter into a shelter for fear of leaving their pets in jeopardy.

-A child's attitude towards pets/animals is a reliable indicator of his/her (future) ability to show compassion towards people.

Former governor of Colorado and Denver district attorney William Ritter states, “Cruelty to animals is a predictor of violent behavior against people, and as good a predictor as I have seen.”

Given the fact that a hindsight review of most domestic violence (news) stories will likely reveal a long list of precursor events, it makes me wonder...

How many dogs or cats, birds or rats (if only they could talk) would have dialed up the DHS hotline after a family endured a volatile boyfriend or a despondent mother for days, an anxious or angry child took his/her frustrations out on them while they spent the past week on a chain with no fresh water or their “pack” was just clearly and simply struggling for survival — to report "We've got a problem over here. We need help!"?

Although it disturbs me to think of our pets filling the role of cultural “canary in the coal-mine,” it doesn't surprise me that this is the case. As is true with other vulnerable members of society like kids, pets are often caught up in the front lines of violence fueled by aggressive human emotions. And voluntary ignorance does not come easy to them.

The equation seems to be: families + pets in trouble = people in trouble.

Ironically the same formula that provides us a chance for salvation in the throes of a natural disaster is what can save us from a domestic one. Love and compassion are mere words when not paired with action.

Early attention to detail, empathy, available resources and the motivation to act is the right mix.

Perhaps Mother Nature is helping us learn how to help ourselves — with our pets as her liaisons.

The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. — Mahatma Gandhi

I believe this is so true... so, what next?

John Spieser is a professional dog trainer and owner of Dogheart. He can be reached at john@doghearta2.com.

Comments

Lynn Liston

Mon, May 23, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.

Excellent article! I hope people take it to heart and look at the behaviours of those around them as they interact with animals. Every time I read about an animal abuse or mutilation episode, I fear for the folks living nearby, because the inability to control violent impulses toward helpless animals who are essentially in your control leads to the increasing inability to control violent impulses toward humans. It is sad to think that an abused animal may be suffering from the early warning symptoms of a human dangerously out of control.

Blanch DuBois

Sun, May 22, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.

Great article! Thanks.

Lorrie Shaw

Sun, May 22, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.

Great post, John. For the record, I sincerely hope that people take this piece seriously. As John states, pets are acting as the proverbial "canary in the coalmine", & since they, unfairly, cannot speak for themselves, it's up to everyday people to recognize what goes on and step in. Undoubtedly, the Humane Society of Huron Valley's cruelty & neglect department will attest, that there are patterns with what conditions & behaviors on the human side that are seen when they are called in - & surely the abuse cases they see number many more than the public-at-large is aware of. And, though any dog is susceptable, those that share characteristics that people today consider to be "pit bulls" are most often involved in cruelty and neglect cases, according to the HSHV. Think about what the outcome is for any animal who has been put in a situation where's domestic violence or other violent behaviors: the behavior problems that result -the knowledge that you can't trust humans, that you fear them, that you protect yourself no matter the cost. For dogs especially, that goes against their nature. I'm thankful for the work that these investigators do. It's difficult, disheartening, but nontheless - necessary. Necessary because of people's behavior. Investigators have to come in and try & clean up the messes that are made. Then specialists in behavior, perhaps fostering & of course everyday care have to try & help re-establish the mindset that companion animals are born with. Some of these people who are behind abuse & neglect know better; they're just awful, predatory human beings. Others, well, they lack the tools to deal with stresses & difficulties that occur in everyday life - they're in survival mode. What happens to children born to these people? They don't learn healthy ways of dealing with life's curve balls so readily, if at all. The cycle begins. Mentally healthy human beings = a good environment for everyone involv

jsmommya2

Thu, May 26, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.

Lorrie although I think your post was mostly well written, maybe you should educate yourself a little more about dv and the victims. People like myself don't appreciate being called "these people" as if domestic violence isn't the largest and best kept secret in America. If you actually knew anyone's story that's been there, you wouldn't say such a thing. I assume people like you are the type to not want to hear about what I'm going through because it's "stressful" to you and drags your day down. We are not all trash. Some of us leave. But remember that when we do the system fails us and doesn't protect us. I could give you examples. So yes it is hard. It's hard being the victim and being punished by everyone for leaving the relationship or calling the cops and having them badger you and talk down to you. And by the way, I have many tools to deal with the stress of everyday life. I have a decent paying full time job, a baby under 6 months, and a dog to take care of while trying to leave this man. Again, we are not all the same. Maybe you should educate yourself before you write another ignorant post.

Lorrie Shaw

Sun, May 22, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.

Additionally, those people who are victims of domestic violence often feel that their choices are limited - and it's no wonder. Lack of financial resources, a place to live, etc can make the decision to get out more difficult. I'm certain that there are people who are worried about their pets' safety if they do leave. The Humane Society has a great program designed to help pet owners that find themselves in a housing emergency for various reasons, including domestic violence. Their "Safe Harbor" program offers shelter for their companion animals. Animals can stay with HSHV for a limited period of time while alternative housing is secured. To find out more, call HSHV at (734) 662-5585.

EyeHeartA2

Sun, May 22, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.

"Cruelty to animals is a predictor of violent behavior against people, and as good a predictor as I have seen." Ducks are animals. Better keep an eye out there.

John B.

Sun, May 22, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.

Sad.