According to the National Link Coalition, only nine states require child protection workers to report animal abuse to their animal control counterparts, and animal control workers are mandated child maltreatment reporters in just twelve states.
Animal abuse is a red flag for family violence. Abusers often exert control over children and domestic partners by threatening or harming pets. Animal abuse is also an aggravating factor in domestic violence. Thirty-five percent of victims fear their partner will kill them, but the number increases to 78% if the perpetrator has a history of harming animals.
So why is cross-reporting among these agencies required in so few states, and why does it require legislation? Couldn’t these agencies establish cross-reporting protocols without a legislative mandate?
Our fall conference on family violence will explore these and related questions, and hopefully stimulate conversations to address them.