Human and animal health: strengthening the link: Child and animal abuse are linked

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7529.1408

BMJ 2005;331:1408 (10 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7529.1408

Letter

Human and animal health: strengthening the link

Child and animal abuse are linked

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

Editor—Coombes rightly considers the duties of doctorsand vets in situations where their patients are in danger ofmistreatment.¹ There is increasing evidence to link animal andchild abuse, and vice versa (www.americanhumane.org). DeVineyet al showed that 88% of pets were abused where child abuseand neglect were present.² Among women seeking refuge from domesticviolence in a safe house, 71% of those with pets reported thattheir partners had been violent to their pet.³

Increasing collaboration between the NSPCA and the RSPCA ishelping government policy to formulate improved links betweenthe two reporting schemes. In several local authorities vetswill contact the appropriate children and families social servicesdepartment to notify it of animal abuse because of the strengthof the link. Wider uptake would do much to protect both setsof innocents.

M E Jan Wise, consultant psychiatrist

Brent East Community Mental Health Trust, London NW6 6HX jan.wise@nhs.net

Competing interests: None declared.

Coombes R. Do vets and doctors face similar ethical challenges? BMJ 2005;331: 1227. (26 November.)
DeViney E, Dickert J, Lockwood R. The care of pets within child abusing families. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 1998;4: 321-9.
Ascione FR. The nature and status of research on the link between animal cruelty and child abuse. Protecting Children 1997;13: 12-4.