Over the past 35 years, researchers and professionals in a variety of human services and animal welfare disciplines have established significant correlations between animal abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse, and other forms of violence. Mistreating animals is no longer seen as an isolated incident that can be ignored: it is often an indicator or predictor of crime and a “red flag” warning sign that other family members in the household may not be safe.

We call this species-spanning interconnectedness of different forms of violence The Link. The National Link Coalition is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative initiative to increase awareness and address public policy, programs, and research.”

Phil Arkow-Coordinator National Link Coalition