Pets can give us clues about what’s really going on behind closed doors
Pets can play a vital role in alerting social workers to child abuse and domestic violence, experts in human-animal relationships argue.
Social work lecturers Rebecca Stephens of the University of Sussex and Dr Mary Elizabeth Rauktis of the University of Pittsburgh both specialise in the emerging field of veterinary social work.
They believe there is a clear link between child abuse, domestic violence and animal cruelty.
Rebecca Stephens said: “Child and animal welfare have historically been distinct and separate practice areas. However, there is established evidence of the correlation between child abuse, domestic violence and animal cruelty, which has been coined ‘The Link’.
“When animals are abused, people are at risk, and when people are abused animals are at risk.”
Stephens said people will often delay leaving abusive relationships or return to them in fear of what might happen not only to themselves or their children, but also their pet.
In addition, companion animals can be used as a tactic to coerce, control and silence family members.
“From research we also know that children who frequently witnessed animal abuse within the home may intervene to protect their pet, but they also might harm their pet because witnessing animal cruelty may become normalised," said Stephens.
Pets can be a “way in” to start difficult conversations with children. Stephens said: “A pet is a communication waiting to happen, and can prompt and facilitate starting a conversation. This is particularly true with children who might struggle to articulate their feelings.
“Asking about pets might give clues to what is really happening in someone's life. And when considering the whole Family Systems Approach, it's important to include pets in family genograms, and assessments and care and safety plans, because this acknowledges the risk and resilience factors associated with the human animal bond.
“I'd also encourage all social workers to know basic animal welfare needs, because if you visit people in their homes regularly, you are in a prime position.
“We should be seeing pets as victims survivors too, and responding to safeguarding concerns as they relate to both vulnerable humans and companion animals.”
Dr Mary Rauktis highlighted the intersectionality of social work and how it can be a powerful tool in bringing animals more into the scope of daily practice.
“You don't have to be a vet to practice across both human and non-human areas,” she said.
“We need to ‘take off the glasses’ that mean we only look at people - we don't ask enough about animals, or the environment for that matter.
“We have a lot of work to do in social work in addressing climate change and its impact on non-human species."
Stephens and Rauktis stress the health and wellbeing benefits associated with pet ownership, and conversely how pet owners can put their needs beneath those of their pet, leading to barriers to healthcare.
Grief experienced through loss of a companion animal can be as strong as loss of a human family member or friend.
Social workers are encouraged to develop their daily practice to:
- Consider the human-animal bond and how pets impact people's lives in social work assessments, care plans, and practice
- Use the Blue Cross pet grief model to help grieving pet owners process their emotions
- Share the Animal Abuse Power and Control wheel with survivors who feel helpless to protect their pets
- Adapt the Duluth Power and Control wheel to include animals as an instrument to coerce, control and silence family members
- Report concerns relating to animal welfare
- Include pets in family genograms and assessments to acknowledge risk/resilience factors