The purposeful abuse or murder of a family pet or the family pet of someone known to the abuser may be a precursor of maltreatment of a family member. It may also be an indicator of ongoing abuse to both humans and animals in the household; for example, an adult who abuses family pets may be abusive to other adults and/or children in the household.

Sometimes children exhibit abusive behavior toward animals. When the cruel and abusive actions of a child result in the torture or death of an animal, this is a clear sign that the child has a serious problem. Experts advise that the child should receive psychological assistance so that the pattern of violence can be interrupted before it escalates.

Sometimes abuse of an animal can occur in a group setting outside the family, in which one or more children slowly torture or kill an animal to impress or shock other children. Such behavior is abnormal and the children involved should receive psychological treatment, again, to halt the cycle of violence before it advances further. Experts may also find a pattern of violence and abuse within the families of those children who severely abuse animals. It may be necessary for state or county social workers to intervene.

When animal abuse or murder is perpetrated by an adult family member, the offender is usually a male. In some cases, the abusing adult uses torture or murder of a pet--or the threat of torturing and murdering a pet--as a means of punishment or a way to control or harm children. Experts have found that if a child genuinely fears the death of a pet, that child may actually murder the pet himself, to provide a more merciful death that the one the child fears would be inflicted by the adult abuser. However, that act in itself causes psychological trauma and can perpetuate the cycle of abuse into adulthood.

In an essay in Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention, Barbara Boat said,

The evidence continues to mount that where animals are abused people are abused and vice versa . . .  Higher rates of animal abuse by parental figures have been found in substantial cases of child physical abuse than in the general population . . .  Abused animals were found in 88% of the homes of 57 families with pets where child physical abuse had been substantiated. Two-thirds of the pets were abused by fathers; a disconcerting one-third of pet abuse was perpetrated by the children.

Reference:

Ascione, Frank R., and Phil Arkov, eds. Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, 1999.

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