The relation of animal abuse with human violence, "The Link", has been recognized for the scientific researches and includes strong association between childhood cruelty to animals and criminal behavior in adults; violence against animals as a way to punish children; animal abuse used as a threat to keep the silence of abused children; sexual abuse of children, ritual mutilation or killing of animals reported by victimized children; animal abuse as a sign of domestic violence against children and women.¹

The cycle of domestic violence involves the most vulnerable children and adults, but also their pets, which serve as a sentinel to that risk.³ A child is in risk if there is animal abuse in his/her family. Animals are in risk if there is child abuse in its family.⁴ Pets are susceptible to being victims of the violence suffered by their tutors.⁵ As animal abuse may indicate widespread family violence and also predict future antisocial behavior, the veterinarian, in addition to responsibilities with animal welfare, has moral and social⁶ responsibility to report suspected abuse and animal cruelty. The veterinarian can be the first professional to access a violent family: this professional take care the abuse animal and can have contact with others victims and the aggressor.⁷

For the identification of ill-treatment of animals the recognition of their occurrence is required, and the identification of signs that indicate non-accidental trauma. However, when it comes to suspect domestic violence with animal abuse, the veterinarian often doesn't know how to act. There is a lack of veterinarians training to identify animal abuse cases and it is the main reason to them not make the complaint.⁸

The factors involved and signs found in battered child syndrome served as a guiding reference in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of beaten animal syndrome or non-accidental trauma.⁹ Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is a term that identifies intentional injury to the animal and including negligence, breach injury, pain or distress, or death of the animal.¹⁰ Veterinarians can receive an animal with NAT. However, the lack of information associated with the vet disbelief that a deliberate physical abuse is occurring, make diagnosis difficult. Moreover, the ethical dilemma surrounding the responsibilities to the patient's well-being and confidentiality with owner of his patient¹¹ result in professional omission.

History inconsistent with injury, analysis of the owner and animal behavior and injuries as: bruises, fractures of limbs, ribs and teeth, burns, lacerations, ocular injuries, are signs that help in the diagnosis of non-accidental trauma. As many veterinarians are not familiarized with these signs, the diagnostic of animal abuse becomes difficult.³

References

1.  Lockwood R, Ascione RR. Cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence: readings in research and application. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

2.  Araujo BD, Biondo AW, Garcia RCM. Traumas não acidentais e outros abusos na rotina clínico-veterinária: como reconhecer, proceder e encaminhar. Revista Clínica Veterinária (São Paulo). 2015;116:100–104.

3.  Currie CL. Animal cruelty by children exposed to domestic violence. Child Abuse Negl. 2006;30(1):425–435.

4.  Gupta M. Functional links between intimate partner violence and animal abuse: personality features and representations of aggression. Soc Anim. 2008;16:223–242.

5.  Munro HMC. The battered pet. In: Ascione FR, Arkow P, eds. Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. 1999:479.

6.  Benetato MA, Reisman R, McCobb E. The veterinarian's role in animal cruelty cases. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;238:31–34.

7.  Woolf JA. How can veterinarians be reporters of animal abuse when they are not taught to recognize it? J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;247:1363–1364.

8.  Munro HMC, Thrusfield MV. Battered pets: non-accidental physical injuries found in dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2001;42(6):279–290.

9.  McGuinness K, Alllen M, Jones BR. Non-accidental injury in companion animals in the Republic of Ireland. Ir Vet J. 2005;58(7):392–396.

10. Lagoni L, Butler C, Olson P. Animal care, animal control and veterinary personnel. In: Ascione FR, Arkow P, eds. Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press; 1999.

11. Green PC, Gullone E. Knowledge and attitudes of Australian veterinarians to animal abuse and human interpersonal violence. Aust Vet J. 2005;83:619–625.