The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research

The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research
18.01.2019
France
The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research
Domestic animals

The United States and Australia, pioneering countries, who already have thirty years of research experience concerning the Link.

The National Link Coalition: A pioneering American institution in the promotion of the Link

Today, it is increasingly recognized that animal abuse is a potential indicator of aggressive or violent behaviour towards humans, and a variety of initiatives are emerging around the world in favour of measures and procedures. These measures and procedures take this gathered knowledge into account in order to prevent the escalation of violence within families and society. The National Link Coalition, headquartered in the United States, is a pioneer in promoting the Link internationally. The coalition is led by a steering committee of US specialists in the prevention of all forms of domestic violence, and its mission is to promote policies and practices to improve the safety of people and animals. National Link Coalition groups have been formed in 20 US states. (8)

There is little doubt that animal abuse is often linked to other forms of interpersonal violence. This discovery is now firmly established in the literature on domestic violence and criminology, whether the perpetrators are students, offenders, criminals, partners of battered women, or children (9).

Most of the previous studies were based on convenience samples * and cross-sectional data. In a study conducted in 1999, Arluke and his colleagues compared the criminal record of 153 individuals convicted of animal abuse with those of a control group of 153 individuals who did not abuse animals, with correspondence on the subject. Gender, age, socio-economic status and street or neighbourhood (10). Animal abusers were at least three times more likely to have a criminal record and at least five times more likely to have committed a crime or violent offense.

In the first US animal cruelty study, based on a representative sample of the adult national population, researchers (11) analysed data from the 2001-2002 national epidemiological survey on alcohol-related problems (NESARC). This survey covered 43,093 residents aged 18 and
over, excluding residents of specialized institutions and a comparison was made between those who reported having abused animals and those who had never abused them, concerning 31 different antisocial behaviours. Individuals who admitted to mistreating animals were significantly more likely than others to have exhibited all of these antisocial behaviours. The strongest links between antisocial behaviour and animal cruelty have been observed in individuals guilty of robbery or assault, arson, harassment or
threats.

This study also indicates a significant relationship between cruelty to animals and a number of psychiatric disorders such as alcohol-related disorders, pathological gambling, behavioural disorders, antisocial personality disorders, and many other disorders. personality (obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoid disorder and histrionic
personality disorder *).

These links were observed even after taking into account a number of relevant socio-demographic variables:

• Age,

• Sex,

• Ethnic
  origins,

• The
  level of education,

• Income,

• The
  family situation,

• The
  region and place of residence, in urban or rural areas.

In a 2009 study of 860 undergraduate students, DeGue and DeLillo found that 60% of students who witnessed or participated in acts of animal cruelty during their childhood were also abused. witnesses of domestic violence at home (12). Those who have been directly abused or neglected have the highest probability of abusing animals. Those who have witnessed acts of animal abuse are eight times more likely
to have abused animals, and 30% of those exposed to domestic violence have also experienced animal abuse. However, only about 30% of those who experienced domestic violence also experienced animal abuse.

«Animal abuse may therefore be a more reliable indicator of family violence than the other way around.» In all cases, animal abuse is a strong indicator of multiple forms of violence against family members.

Australian input into the Link research

Research conducted in Australia has essentially confirmed the results observed in other countries, predominantly in the United States and the United Kingdom. Several books and articles have been devoted to this work (12 to 20). The Link research in Australia was conducted by a small team of researchers. These include Gullone, who has demonstrated a connection between animal cruelty on the one hand and harassment and bullying of teenagers, domestic violence and witnessing acts of cruelty to animals committed by persons of significant importance to the witness (12 to 16). Dr. Tania Signal, among others (19), conducted a significant number of studies in Australia and contributed significantly to Australian research (13). Groups and resources (20) to study the Link in a concrete way have been developed across the country. A relatively new project called Lucy’s project was launched (19).

*Convenience sample: the subjects in the study are chosen for practical reasons, and because the researcher did not find it useful to choose subjects that are representative of the global population.

*Histrionic personality: Personality disorder characterized by a marked tendency to dramatization or theatricality. Frequently it is easy to be influenced by others or by circumstances.

Sources

8 http: //nationallinkcoalition.o …
9 Flynn, Clifton P., Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis, Lantern Books, 2012.
10 Arluke, A., Levin, J., Luke, C. and Ascione, F. (1999), « The Relationship of Animal Abuse to Violence and Other Forms of
Antisocial Behavior ». Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14: 963-75.
11 Vaughn, Michael G., Qiang Fu, Matt DeLisi, Kevin M. Beaver, Brian E. Perron, Katie Terrell and Matthew O. Howard (2009), « Correlates of Cruelty to Animals in the United States: Results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Psychiatric Research 43: 1213-18.
12 DeGue, Sarah and David DeLillo (2009), Is Animal Cruelty a Red Flag for Family Violence? Investigating Co-occurrence Violence toward Children, Partners and Pets.  » Journal of Interpersonal Violence 24: 1036-56.
13 Clifton Flynn, Professor of Sociology and Rector at the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC, USA.
12 Gullone, E. (2012), Animal Cruelty, Antisocial Behavior and Aggression: More than a link. Palgrave Macmillan Ltd., Hampshire.
13 Gullone, E. and Clarke, J. (2008), « Human-Animal Interactions: The Australian Perspective. » In F. Ascione (et al.), The International Handbook of Theory and Research on Animal Abuse and Cruelty (pp. 305-335). West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University
Press.
14 Gullone, E. (2012), « Animal cruelty and family violence ». In Reyes, C.L. and Brewster, M.P. (et al). Animal Cruelty and the
Criminal Justice System (pp. 237-262), Durham, NC, Carolina Academic
Press.
15 Gullone, E. and Robertson, N. (2008), « The relationship between bullying and animal abuse in adolescents: The importance of witnessing animal abuse ». Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29, 371-379.
16 Thompson, K. and Gullone, E. (2008), « Prosocial and antisocial behaviors in adolescents: An investigation into associations with attachment and empathy ». Anthrozoos, 21, 123-137
17 Volant, A., Johnson, J., Gullone, E. and Coleman, G. (2008), « The relationship between family violence and animal abuse ». Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 1277-1295.

18 https://scholar.google.com.au/…
19https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au…
20 http://www.mysavinggrace.org.a…

A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?

A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?
15.01.2019
France
A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?
Domestic animals

A draft decree proposes to modify the conditions of practice for hunting with hounds, whereas 82% of French society asks for its abolition. Tradition cannot justify barbarism, it is time for France to take its responsibilities in terms of respect for animals. Let us take part in a public consultation to demand the outright abolition of this cruel and outdated practice, and not a cosmetic reform that will only perpetuate this heartless « leisure activity ».

More than a year after a deer was slaughtered at the Croix-Saint-Ouen and even though the vast majority of the country is opposed to this archaic and cruel practice, the State is submitting a draft decree modifying the 18^thMarch 1982 « concerning the exercise of hunting and is aiming to limit incidents at the end of hunting close to inhabited areas ».

What is in this text?

A superficial reform, even cosmetic, of hunting with hounds, horns and screams. Instead of banning it and replying to the request of 82% of the French who oppose it, the State decides to keep it away from view and « limit » by six tenths the number of dogs allowed to chase these poor targeted animals. Dogs are piled into transport boxes, into the back of vans, stored as equipment, without water or food. They don’t waste a minute in the morning … Who cares for these dogs, used as tools to hunt and living by with the whip?

The stag of the Croix-Saint-Ouen and the one at Pont-Sainte Maxence, the hunters who were filmed by our cameras, the hunters who were pardoned because the stags were too close to villages, finally stabbed, drowned…, an all too common practice that we have become aware of. To prohibit the hunting of an animal until the limit of housing is not enough, it is only a way to allow these morally indefensible practices to persist against the majority view, it’s not enough. It will not alleviate the suffering of these sentient beings.

Tradition cannot justify barbarism

The huntsmen revel about a book about sociology (Hunting with hounds (La Chasse à courre), its rites and stakes) that describes their practices in every detail. But sociologists do not judge. A « total social fact » does not mean that it is good or morally acceptable. Ethics and modernity must prevail over barbarism, even if it were codified! Anthropologists keep repeating: a tradition changes over time and can be abandoned. Especially if the times have changed to the point that it becomes antiquated, obsolete or old fashioned. Traditions are the roots of a society, by nature changing and not its limiting framework.

We urge you to participate in a number of public consultations to block this ministerial draft order on hunting with hounds, which will only reinforce the practice for years again, by giving the argument to the huntsmen that they will have been « reformed ». Let’s ask the ministry to abolish the hunt altogether!

The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns

The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns
11.01.2019
France
The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns
Domestic animals

Find out, over the weeks, some key initiatives in countries where important organizations have found evidence of reciprocal links between animal cruelty and violence against people, and act to prevent escalation of violence in homes and in society. Recommendations for key measures for policy makers and providers of services to people and animals are also formulated, to contribute to a debate on how social and legal mechanisms can be developed in France, to ensure the well-being of humans and animals.

For forty years, there has been a growing interest in what is now called « the Link », that is to say

«The discovery that acts of interpersonal violence are preceded or accompanied by acts of cruelty to animals in a predictable manner (1)»

Over the past two decades, more and more factual studies have been published on animal abuse and its links to violence against human beings, and this area of research is now recognized as a discipline in its own right. Sociologists, criminologists, social workers, psychologists and lawyers (2). In this field, animal abuse is commonly defined as:

«Socially unacceptable behaviour that intentionally causes pain, suffering, preventable stress or the death of an animal.»

Today, it is increasingly recognized that animal abuse is a potential indicator of aggressive or violent behaviour towards humans. A variety of initiatives are emerging around the world in favour of measures and procedures that take this knowledge into account in order to prevent the escalation of violence within families and society.

The National Link CoalitionThe National Link Coalition, headquartered in the United States, is a pioneer in promoting the Link. This coalition is led by a steering committee of US specialists in the prevention of all forms of domestic violence, whose mission is to promote policies and practices to improve the safety of people and animals.

In 2008, One Voice led the company in recognizing the relationship between animal abuse and violence against people by sponsoring an inaugural conference at Oxford University entitled « The Link Between Animal Abuse and violence against humans « . This conference was a start for the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics (OCAE), (3) whose president and co-founder, Andrew Linzey, is also vice president of One Voice. It brought together leaders in this field to analyse the Link and its profound implications in social and legal policy around the world and to set up an essential research agenda.

Papers presented at this conference by academics and specialists in crime and crime prevention, law enforcement, social action, animal welfare, child protection, education and compassion, veterinary services, spousal care and the elderly were the subject of a published book,
the Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence (4). This book has been translated by One Voice (under the
title Link: violence on animals and humans) to raise awareness of these issues in France (5).

The problem of the Link is particularly important for One Voice, which bases its action on an ethic of non-violence and works to promote the protection of animals as a societal value, based on the belief that all life must be respected. In 2008, as part of its mission to build a better, non-violent future for humans and animals,One Voice also launched the « I listen to my conscience » initiative (6).

53 %

French households have a pet

28 %

French households have a cat

25 %

French households have a dog

The Link question is very relevant in France, where 53% of households have at least one domestic animal. About 25% of households have a dog and 28% of households have a cat. France is even the country with the highest pet population in Europe with 7.5 million dogs, 11.5 million cats, 7 million birds, 2 million rodents and 27 million fish (7).

Sources
1 Phil Arkow, dans sa préface de l’ouvrage d’Eleonora Gullone Animal Cruelty, Antisocial Behaviour, and Aggression: More than a Link, The Palgrave MacMillan Animal Ethic Series, 2012.
2 Flynn, Clifton P., Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis, Lantern Books, 2012.
3 http://www.oxfordanimalethics….http://jecoutemaconscience.one…
4 The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence, Sussex Academic Press (1er déc. 2009).
5 Andrew Linzey, Le Lien : Violences sur les animaux et les humains, One Voice, 2012.
6 http://jecoutemaconscience.one…

New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!

New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!
24.12.2018
France
New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!
Domestic animals

Is it to scare and put pressure on a family (a human couple and their companions New Song the horse and his friend donkey) that the marsh which they own, has been the scene for a month of drama that nearly became a disaster? Or was it just a crude desire to make animals suffer? Destruction of the fences, setting fire to a shed, troughs overturned, then since that was not enough, the poor horse was targeted with fire! He paid with his health. One Voice goes to court for the New Song family: the culprits must be found and punished!

Since November 11^th, the horse New Song and the donkey who keeps him company have been harassed. The fence of their paddock was cut down, poles were broken, their troughs moved and turned upside-down … They were taken from their home by strangers who on several occasions sought to make them disappear. This stratagem did not have the expected result, a fire was then lit in the corner of the shed that serves as a shelter, fortunately it was quickly extinguished. But the wickedness of these people involved did not stop there: a few days later, the poor horse was hit twice by a rifle in his side and leg. Only 14 pieces of shot were removed out of 150 that hit the horse, this was recorded by the veterinarian who treated him urgently.

New Song had spent that morning with his human friends. But then two hours after their departure, gun shots riddled his body, scared, in pain, bleeding and soon to be overwhelmed by fatigue.

The veterinarian found swelling from an oedema and wounds, although New Song’s life is not at stake here, the pain and stress he has experienced is real. The life of the horse is forever upset. It will take at least a year to recover and cannot resume all its past activities. For our lawyer, « there is no doubt that the author of these facts was willing to inflict pain or even death of the horse, having fired point-blank twice at his flanks. »

We have therefore pressed charges for acts of cruelty against a tamed domestic animal with the public prosecutor at the Sables-d’Olonne High Court, and our Zoe Cell will also represent the family of New Song.

We do not know anything about the people involved at the moment, but all of these attacks which this family has suffered and who adore their animals can only raise questions and disgust. Whether it is to pressure and threaten them or whether New Song and the donkey caused any inconvenience to people in the neighbourhood, it is still unacceptable to target animals!

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