| linked to other observatories |
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| Observatory on Violence towards Animals and VioPet Programme |
| We reflect with other observatories on violence towards women about the work they do, and the importance of gathering and analysing data on the reality of the situation when directing interventions and measures. |
In this edition we have, on an exceptional basis, the participation of the Observatorio de la Violencia hacia los animales (the Observatory on Violence towards Animals, or OVHA) to address the relationship between gender and/or domestic violence and the abuse that the animals who form part of the family suffer in this context. Dr Núria Querol, Director of the Observatory, explains OVHA’s contribution, both the understanding of this facet of situations of gender violence, as well as the specific attention that these cases require via the VioPet programme. |
What achievements and contributions stand out at the Observatory’s activity in relation to the link between gender and/or domestic violence and the abuse of animals that form part of the families where this takes place?
The Observatory has different lines of action, through which we have been contributing small achievements:
- An agreement with the Faculty of Law at the University of Barcelona to carry out teaching and research activities as part of different CEUs (Continuing Education Units), postgraduate degrees and master’s degrees. We also held the 1st International Congress on Violence towards Animals in March of 2018, as part of the 3rd edition of the Conference on Criminal Profiling and Research, organized by the Master’s in Profiling and Analysis of Criminal Behaviour at the University of Barcelona.
- The project “Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime”, alongside the NSA (National Sheriff’s Association) and the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Service) at the United States of America’s Department of Justice, intended to improve the training of Security Forces when they are faced with situations of interpersonal violence and animal abuse.
- As members of the NSA/FBI work group on NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) and animal abuse, we have compiled and criminologically analysed the data from the FBI in Spanish.
- As members of the Board of Directors of the pioneering SAF-T programme, we already have 150 shelter homes in the USA, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, which allow animals to be accommodated with women. Likewise, PAWS (Pets and Women Safety Act) was approved in the USA in December 2018, to guarantee the protection of animals and the victims of gender violence (1).
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What does research show regarding this link? Are statistical data or qualitative analyses on the identification of cases where gender violence also impacts pets, farm animals, etc., available? What is needed to understand this aspect better?
Firstly, we should clarify that if there is any type of animal abuse, we have to act (it is criminally and administratively proscribed) and that it is an alarm signal that we should investigate the context and the abuser. There are many studies, the most well-known being that according to the FBI, 46% of serial killers abused animals in their adolescence; 86% of women who are victims of violence who are in shelters refer to abuse of their pets (Ascione, et al.) (in our study, the figure reached 94% because we took psychological abuse into account [Querol, et al.]). There are differences with respect to the treatment given to animals in urban and rural settings, but the attachment that women feel in rural environments with their animals is also produced, meaning we have an agreement with two animal sanctuaries in case on any occasion we need this special shelter.
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86% of women who are victims of violence who are in shelters refer to abuse of their pets |
| To better understand this aspect, we need sufficient academic resources to investigate and obtain enough qualitative and quantitative proof, as well as the collaboration of the various agents involved in a case. |
The Observatory on Violence towards Animals coordinates the VioPet Programme. What needs does this programme respond to? How is it carried out?
In the USA, they began to detect that between 59-69% of women refused emergency accommodation or a shelter. When they were asked why, they explained that as their companion animals were not allowed to enter, they preferred to sleep on the street, in cars, anywhere, instead of being separated from the animals that in some cases had even saved their lives in an attack. Having high-risk victims with no safety measures alerted different specialists, and Allie Phillips, from the District Attorneys Association, created the SAF-T Programme (of which VioPet forms part of the board of directors), a guide to good practices so that women’s shelters can adapt a space to accommodate animals. In Spain there are already three district that meet these premises: Langreo, Oviedo and Zaragoza; and others that have committed to adopting them (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Arrecife, Ripollet).
The entry of a case can come from the woman herself, from social services, an animal protection agency, the security forces, etc. We also receive cases from the healthcare system, the Red Cross or the Victim Care Line; any of the agencies that detect cases of gender violence. |
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women refused emergency accommodation or a shelter (…) as their companion animals were not allowed to enter, they preferred to sleep on the street, in cars, anywhere, instead of being separated from the animals that in some cases had even saved their lives in an attack |
What is the current scope? What type of entities have joined the programme?
VioPet’s scope includes the whole of Spain, but we also have delegations in Latin America and the USA. If we’re talking about SAF-T, also Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. The members include social services, veterinary centres, women’s shelters, security forces, animal protection agencies, etc.
What are the steps for an organization to join the VioPet programme when they want to offer this resource in order to improve care in cases of gender violence?
The idea is to arrange an interview to get to know each other, and to fill out a membership form, specifying what the resource can offer and how we can help. We try to adapt each membership form to the specific circumstances, always under the Law on Data Protection. |
The Observatory and the VioPet Programme suggest that the human-animal connection should be systematically taken into account in the evaluation of cases of gender violence, and that a shelter resource should be offered to animals. And also that those cases in which the animal is abused in order to inflict psychological damage on the woman and her children should be considered gender violence. Could you expand on this information?
In our research, we have detected that animal abuse and even the threat of abuse involves great psychological suffering for women and children. Even if the animal is not directly harmed, it is a type of coercion/threat, an instrumentalization of the animal that is already penalized as a gender violence crime in seven states in the USA, and in the recent entry into force of the ‘Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018’ (since 1/4/2019). If there is animal abuse, as we have assessed in some cases, there will be two crimes: animal abuse and gender violence. |
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The first thing would be to systematically include abusing/threatening an animal as an indicator when assessing risk |
Any other suggestions for improvement?
Constant training, as in any field! We have also seen that the woman, children and animals being able to stay at a refuge from the start aids recovery, reduces institutional victimization and keeps all victims safe. The fundamental summary would be constant training and, above all, working as a network and asking when faced with any doubts. |
What measures can we incorporate from other countries that have been working with this perspective for longer?
The first thing would be to systematically include abusing/threatening an animal as an indicator when assessing risk. For animals to be included in protection orders, that they are allowed to go to emergency refuges, shelters and social housing, and that abuse or the threat of abuse in the context of gender violence is considered gender violence. A bio-psycho-social perspective of the case is also essential and, from the studies, experience and jurisprudence that there is in the USA, for example the obligatory nature of communicating and intervening if there are vulnerable people in a home where animal abuse has been detected, and vice versa. In our case, we have detected that abused animals may suffer from behavioural problems, above all phobias, anxiety and fear of male figures. For this reason, we have established a collaboration with a group of educators with the aim of relieving the anguish of the woman and to improve the animal’s quality of life.
(1) It was ultimately approved with further reforms and a new name: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 |
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For animals to be included in protection orders, that they are allowed to go to emergency refuges, shelters and social housing, and that abuse or the threat of abuse in the context of gender violence is considered gender violence |
| Access to Observatorio de la Violencia hacia los animales (OVHA) and VioPet
Access to documents and programmes:
Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime
Informe FBI 2017
Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T) ™
Ascione, Weber and Wood, The abuse of animals and domestic violence: a national survey of shelters for women who are battered
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