In November of 2003, the BC SPCA announced that it had partnered with several BC organizations to create the "Violence Link Project", a program designed to inform and aid the pets of victims of violence. The BC SPCA's role was described as being both an educator of the public as well as a support system for victims of abuse and their pets. It all sounded wonderful on paper, and a series of pamphlets was created to promote the program. The BC SPCA also issued a press release touting all that it was doing to help victims of violence and their pets.
Following is a brief synopsis of what the program claims to offer, taken directly from pamhlets, websites, and BC SPCA press releases:
From the BCSPCA’s November 19, 2003 Press Release “Addressing the Link Between Family Violence and Animal Cruelty”
”The Violence Link Project officially launches Nov. 19th with the first joint training workshop at the Justice Institute of BC. Participants from several BC agencies and organizations will gather to increase their knowledge about the link between family violence and animal abuse and to share information on identifying signs of abuse. A series of brochures on the violence link has also been produced for wide distribution by organizations helping victims of violence.”
Family Violence and Animal Abuse
Excerpts from Pamphlet #1 for the General Public
“Support anyone who may be abused by a family member. Encourage the person to call VictimLINK at 1-800-563-0808.”
“Report animal abuse. Report all instances of suspected animal abuse to the BC SPCA or police.”
Excerpts from Pamphlet #2 for Animal Care Professionals: Coordinating Violence Prevention
“Today, communities across Canada are initiating coalitions for coordinated violence prevention. Animal care workers, family violence workers and police officers are learning how to recognize and report cross-abuse.
Examples of current collaborative work:
- including plans for pets in safety plans for abused women
- developing emergency shelter programs for the pets of women leaving abusive relationships
- including animal care workers on local coordinating committees for violence against women in relationships
- building partnerships between veterinarians and family violence prevention workers
- developing training modules on violence against women in relationships, animal abuse, and child abuse for animal protection workers and family violence prevention workers
- having family violence courses in colleges and universities that include pets in the definition of family
- holding joint educational workshops for the family violence prevention and animal welfare communities
Resources
- The BC SPCA is taking practical steps to address the training needs about the link between animal abuse and family violence. The BC SPCA is also working with local communities to provide support to battered women and their pets.
Excerpts from Pamphlet #3 for Victim Service Workers and Justice System Personnel
“Be informed about the links between family violence and animal abuse, the resources you can use, and the collaborative efforts underway in your community.
-Report Abuse
Report suspected child abuse. Call the Helpline for Children 310-1234 (toll free, no area code needed)
Report suspected animal abuse the SPCA or the police. Phone BC SPCA: 1-800-665-1868”
“-Become Involved
Contact Victim Services Division to find out more about resources, cross-training, the development of protocols, and community coalitions. Phone: 604-660-5199.
· The BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses is working with the BC SPCA and with veterinarians in local communities to provide support for battered women and their pets. BC SPCA toll free: 1-800-665-1868
· The British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association has made animal welfare, including animal abuse, one of its priorities. Contact the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association at 1-604-929-7090.
· BC /Yukon Society of Transition Houses: 604-669-6943.”
Resource links for all 3 brochures
From the BC SPCA's website: www.bcspca/abuse.htm
Towards a Humane Coalition
“Every year, the BC SPCA conducts over 10,000 cruelty investigations, while Social Services responds to some 30,000 allegations of child abuse or neglect. Although only a small percentage of investigations uncovers serious abuse, it is clear that the community -- and families at risk -- would be well served by earlier intervention arising from interagency cooperation. In an escalating situation, animals are often the first victims. Because they fear intervention will result in removal of the children, neighbours may report concerns about animal cruelty sooner than acting upon suspicions of child abuse. Recognizing this, the SPCA has begun to train its inspectors in child abuse detection.”
From the BC SPCA's online magazine Animal Sense:
http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalsense/FallWinter2002/ViolenceLinkFallWinter2002.htm
Excerpts from “The Pattern of Violence: The links between human and animal abuse are well documented and the BC SPCA is out to help victims of violence and their pets.” by Gail Johnson
"Research points to a link between cruelty to animals and family abuse.
The good news is that a number of local initiatives are in the works to educate people about the connection — and to help both victims of abuse and their pets.
“We want to raise awareness about the link and let people know there are services available,” says Craig Naherniak, the general manager of humane education at the BC SPCA. “Animals are part of that equation. We want to help victims of abuse find a safe way to leave.”
One of the most difficult things a woman can do is leave an abusive relationship — and many may not leave sooner out of fear for their pet’s safety.
A 1998 survey conducted by the Ontario SPCA looked at women leaving
abusive relationships and found that 61 per cent had pets abused or killed by their partners. Forty-eight per cent said that concern over the safety of their pets prevented them from leaving sooner.
Here is where things get complicated. Many transition houses do not allow pets. Often, women are advised to leave their animal with a friend or family member, but many do not want to put their loved ones in a dangerous situation. The B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses recently completed a survey on clients and their pets and found that 86 per cent of transition houses had a no-pet policy.
In response, the Transition House Society has developed the Companion Animals Research and Education Initiative, which aims to provide shelters for battered women with resources to help those with pets. Funded by the Vancouver Foundation and the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada, CARE’s Tool Kit will include information such as signs of animal abuse and information for developing pet foster programs.
The Transition House Society has teamed up with the SPCA in certain areas of B.C. and the Yukon to enable women to leave their pets at shelters while they are in transition homes. “There are solutions,” says Harrison. “We can help women who have nowhere to turn to keep them and their pets safe.”
To help the public better understand the link between animal and domestic violence, the BC SPCA is publishing educational brochures, produced jointly with the B.C. government’s Victim Services Branch, the UBC School of Social Work, the B.C. Veterinary Medical Association, the Institute Against Family Violence and the B.C./Yukon Transition House Society. Funded in part by the federal government’s National Crime Prevention Centre, the pamphlets will be distributed locally throughout B.C. A series of workshops on community- coalition building on the animal- abuse link are also part of the project."