Kentucky and Washington are the latest states to define coercive-control animal abuse as domestic and dating violence, and to include pets in protection-from-abuse orders. Judicial officials in Delaware are considering how to implement cross-reporting, pet protection orders and questions about pets in initial screenings. Louisiana’s animal shelters need to make Link-based improvements. And new guidances from the UK, US and Canada help veterinarians respond to suspected domestic violence and animal abuse. All this – and much more – is in your May LINK-Letter, which you can read by clicking here:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and The Link

–   Kentucky calls coercive animal abuse domestic and dating violence, implements pet protective orders

–   Washington adds threat to pets to definition of domestic violence crimes

–   Arizona Humane Society gets $700,000 grant to help pet survivors of domestic violence

–   New York’s Urban Resource Institute gets $65,000 grant for pet park at domestic violence shelter

–   US Office of Victims of Crimes announces $3,500,000 in grants for survivors and pets

CRIMINAL JUSTICE and The Link

–   Delaware judges and legislators addressing Link issues

ELDER ABUSE and The Link

–   Houston collaboration to help vulnerable adults and animals

VETERINARY MEDICINE and The Link

–   UK Link guidance expands focus on suspected domestic violence

–   Canadian Veterinary Journal reviews animal abuse reporting issues

–   Six-step process for responding to suspected abuse published

THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS and The Link

–   Participants sought for research study on AAT with abused youths

The Link in THE LITERATURE

–  ASPCA offering seed grants on cruelty research and psychological trauma

–  Latin American Link review calls for One Health/One Welfare work

–  Australian study reports high correlations of animal abuse and IPV

–  Trauma-informed practice for animal shelters similar to child abuse/domestic violence workers

ANIMAL SHELTERS and The Link

–   Audit of Louisiana’s shelters cites needs for Link-based improvements

Raising LINK AWARENESS

–   6-part webinar series introduces humane and human services to each other

–   “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” webcast features The Link

LINK LEGISLATION

We’re watching an amazing 141 bills that have already been introduced in state legislatures and Congress – 8 of which have already been signed into law.

THE LINK IN THE NEWS…

–   Physical therapist gets 4 life sentences for killing family and dog

–   New Jersey man faces prison for killing ex’s pets

–   Foster parents and abusive teen convicted in child’s murder

–   Iowa man charged with killing cats to torture his girlfriend

–   3 people and family dog killed in apparent murder-suicide

–   Woman accused of using cat to scratch girlfriend’s face

–   3 charged in shooting dog that attacked their duck

–   Ex-con charged with child & animal porn and weapons offenses

–   Texas man charged murdering neighbor over stray dog complaint

–   Accused man re-arrested for allegedly drowning puppies

–   Minnesota murder-suicide claims 4 family members and dog

–   Sheriff seeks suspect in rape and shooting her dog as they escaped

–   Florida men jailed for “atrocious” child and animal pornography

… plus 26 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES where you can learn more about how animal abuse is a sentinel indicator and predictor of human violence.

Please share the issue with your colleagues and send me your news and names of any associates who would also like to receive The LINK-Letter. Thanks for helping us to make a difference in protecting vulnerable people, animals and communities.

Phil Arkow, Coordinator

The National LINK Coalition –

The National Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

16 Grasshopper Drive

Etowah, NC 28729

828-595-9750

arkowpets@snip.net

www.NationalLinkCoalition.org

The April LINK-Letter features news about Congress granting full funding for pet-friendly domestic violence shelters, a groundbreaking court decision allowing damages for animal abuse in domestic violence cases, Utah including pets in protection-from-abuse orders, prosecutors and judges addressing animal cruelty – and much more! Click here to read about:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and The Link

–   PAWS Act receives full $3,000,000 funding for 2022

–   Groundbreaking ruling allows civil damages for coercive-control pet abuse

–   Tips on including pets in safety planning

–   Utah becomes 37^th state to allow pets in protective orders

–   Saskatchewan collaborative partnership expands

CROSS-REPORTING and The Link

–  Ohio cross-reporting law showing positive results

CRIMINAL JUSTICE and The Link

–   NCJFCJ adds Link webinars, resources and template for PSAs to its website

–   DA’s in NY and NC add animal cruelty units

Raising LINK AWARENESS

–   “Challenging Animal Cruelty” program raises Link awareness in New Mexico

–   SAF-T podcast spotlights pet-friendly domestic violence shelters

–   Humane education course focuses on The Link between animal and human violence

–   Mexican Senate holds forum on The Link

–   Japanese article discusses impact of witnessing animal abuse

–   One Welfare World Conference proceedings and video feature The Link

NEWS FROM LINK COALITIONS

–   Chicago Safe Haven Network seeks executive director

–   Southeast Texas Link Coalition expands

–   SafePet Ontario under new leadership

The Link in THE LITERATURE

–  Link-based collaborations are more effective in protecting animals

LINK LEGISLATION

We’re watching an amazing 129 bills that have already been introduced in state legislatures and Congress.

THE LINK IN THE NEWS…

–   12 convicted in multi-state cocaine and dogfighting ring

–   Jealous father gets 3 years in prison for killing ex-wife’s dogs

–   South Carolina man charged with screwing his dog to a wall

–   Policeman gets prison term for shooting ex-fiancee’s dog

–   Woman charged with throwing boyfriend’s dog off balcony

–   Man charged with shooting two witnesses who tried to stop him from beating a dog

–   Louisiana man charged with 176 counts of child and animal pornography

–   Drug gang massacre claims 26 victims at cockfight

… plus 22 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES where you can learn more about how animal abuse is a sentinel indicator and predictor of human violence.

Please share the issue with your colleagues and send me your news and names of any associates who would also like to receive The LINK-Letter. Thanks for helping us to make a difference in protecting vulnerable people, animals and communities.

Phil Arkow, Coordinator

The National LINK Coalition –

The National Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

16 Grasshopper Drive

Etowah, NC 28729

828-595-9750

arkowpets@snip.net

www.NationalLinkCoalition.org

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

Courtesy of Uanimals.

During the bombing of Kharkiv, this cat lost its owners and one of nine lives…
Rescuers got him from under the fall. Now he is in the careful hands of a caring Kharkiv woman who promised to look after him.

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>  Click here to follow our Ukraine Updates. We will have a new update Monday, March 21

By Phil Arkow

The first national study to examine children’s roles as perpetrators or reporters of animal abuse has been published. Family court judges are looking at how animal abuse affects their cases. And Canadian law now defines threatening, hurting, or killing pets as family violence. All this and more are in your February LINK-Letter about animal abuse’s Links to human violence. Click here to read about:

CHILD MALTREATMENT and The Link

–   Juvenile & family court judges urged to consider impact of animal abuse

–   Study examines children as perpetrators or reporters of animal abuse

–   National survey in Norway Links child, animal and domestic abuse

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and The Link

–   Domestic violence training course for police includes animal abuse as risk factor

–   Animal Welfare Institute expands library of state manuals for survivors & advocates

–   Canadian divorce law includes threats to pets in definition of family violence

–   RedRover seeking Community Outreach Coordinator

–   BestyBnB Links Kansas City survivors with foster pet caregivers

CRIMINAL JUSTICE and The Link

–   Linked crimes impact an “animal harm spectrum” in a “patchwork of patchworks” of enforcement

–   List of specialized animal cruelty prosecution and enforcement units grows

SOCIAL WORK and The Link

–   Two Veterinary Social Work positions will intervene in Link situations

VETERINARY MEDICINE and The Link

–  ALDF project promotes collaborative veterinary response to animal cruelty investigations

ANIMAL SEXUAL ABUSE and The Link

–  Bill would finally ban bestiality in Washington, D.C.

The Link in THE LITERATURE

–  Study examines women’s proclivity for committing animal abuse

ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT of LINK OFFENDERS

–   Webinar offers CEUs for BARK abuser diversion program

News from LINK COALITIONS

–  New Link coalition organized in Kansas City

–  WANTED: Link news from around the globe!

Raising LINK AWARENESS

–   Link cited as way to improve European animal welfare enforcement

–   National Link Coalition cited in domestic violence awareness article

LINK LEGISLATION

As the 2022 legislative sessions get under way, we’re watching 87 bills that have already been introduced in state legislatures and Congress.

THE LINK IN THE NEWS…

–   West Virginia father charged with child neglect and animal cruelty

–   Dentist charged with murdering wife while on African hunting safari

–   Kentucky man with criminal history charged with burning dog

–   Houston man suspected in carjacking, robbery, stabbing K-9, and killing his father

–   Florida man accused of online blackmail, child pornography and bestiality

–   New Jersey child pornography investigation leads to animal cruelty charges

… plus 14 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES where you can learn more about how animal abuse is a sentinel indicator and predictor of human violence.

Please share the issue with your colleagues and send me your news and names of any associates who would also like to receive The LINK-Letter. Thanks for helping us to make a difference in protecting vulnerable people, animals and communities.

Phil Arkow, Coordinator

The National LINK Coalition –

The National Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

16 Grasshopper Drive

Etowah, NC 28729

828-595-9750

arkowpets@snip.net

www.NationalLinkCoalition.org

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE January LINK-Letter

“The Michigan teenager who allegedly killed four students and wounded seven others reportedly has a history of torturing animals. Two key legislators say that emphasizing how animal abuse hurts people is a better strategy to get animal welfare laws passed. And we need your help to identify prosecutors and law enforcement offices that have dedicated animal cruelty units. All of this and more is in your January LINK-Letter about animal abuse’s Links to human violence.” Phil Arkow, Coordinator, The National LINK Coalition 

Click here to read about:  January LINK-Letter 

 THE LINK IN THE NEWS…

–   Michigan teenage school shooter said to also torture animals

–   Ex-cop suspected of child pornography and bestiality

–   Mother was charged with child neglect and animal cruelty while DCF was unresponsive

–   Police investigating a murder-suicide that also claimed the family dog

–   Texas man killed as thieves of stolen dog try to claim reward

–   Barking dogs complaint results in shootings of two police officers

LEGISLATION and The Link

–  A Link emphasis can advance laws and aid reconciliation with indigenous communities

–  Court-appointed advocates for animals bill to be re-introduced in Florida

CHILD MALTREATMENT and The Link

–   Child welfare professionals sought for a focus group to inform juvenile & family court judges

 CRIMINAL JUSTICE and The Link

–  Help us identify specialized animal cruelty prosecution and enforcement units

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and The Link

– Churches seen as untapped resource for victim support

VETERINARY MEDICINE and The Link

–  Study examines conditions of Purdue University’s PetSafe program

–  Canadian veterinary technicians learn about The Link

LAW ENFORCEMENT and The Link

–  300 Calgary police officers receive Link training

SOCIAL WORK and The Link

–   Applications invited for three assistant professorships

COVID-19 and The Link

–   Study to examine animal shelter and pet owner challenges

The Link in THE LITERATURE

–  Suspected serial cat killings found to be caused by natural predators

 Raising LINK AWARENESS

–   Link awareness grows in Kentucky, Alberta, and across North America

LINK LEGISLATION

We’re celebrating 24 major Link legislative victories among 132 bills that were introduced in 2021 in state and federal legislatures addressing how animal abuse is Linked with other family and community violence. And we’re watching 79 more that have already been introduced for 2022.

… plus 23 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES where you can learn more about how animal abuse is a sentinel indicator and predictor of human violence.

Please share the issue with your colleagues and send me your news and the names of any associates who would also like to receive The LINK-Letter.

Send to:

arkowpets@snip.net

Thanks for helping us to make a difference in protecting vulnerable people, animals, and communities.

Phil Arkow, Coordinator

The National LINK Coalition –

The National Resource Center on The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

16 Grasshopper Drive

Etowah, NC 28729

828-595-9750

arkowpets@snip.net

www.NationalLinkCoalition.org

On Monday Mexico’s pets had a change of scenery as they were blessed in a ceremony to mark the feast day of St. Anthony, known as the protector of animals.  View Video Below.