ANIMAL ABUSE AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE: THE ROLE OF THE VETERINARIAN IN FORENSIC MEDICINE

In recent years, investigations on animal abuse and interpersonal violence have demonstrated a strong relationship between these two forms of aggressive behaviours. Animal welfare, professionals, and social services now acknowledge that episodes of cruelty to animals, as well as maltreatment, domestic violence, and abuse of the elderly, are closely related. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "THE LINK". It is imperative that changes in social policies are introduced in order to raise awareness about this subject, and also that professional figures, who are involved in various ways in the fight against violence, develop collaborative approaches to limit animal abuse and other forms of domestic violence. We know that no professionalism, alone, can successfully deal with this alarming situation. Breaking the cycle of violence has become a top priority for today's society. Understanding and tackling the connection between animal violence and violence inflicted on people represents an important tool for veterinary surgeons to protect animals' welfare. The current problem related to the relationship between acts of cruelty to animals and violence against human beings is largely represented by the role of veterinarian in the recognition of abuse on domestic and wild animals and the ability to produce clinical and pathological evidence. It is therefore necessary to undertake a university education programme to recognise and document external/internal body injuries suggesting abuse. Veterinarians have many opportunities in civil and professional life to play their part in preventing crimes in the "One Health" perspective. In the US as well as in some European countries (The Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Sweden) (National Link Coalition - June 28, 2016 - Minneapolis), strategies for the detection of animal abuse have been adopted in order to prevent violence towards the weaker categories. This study aims to raise academic awareness about cruelty to animals, to encourage veterinarians to include non-accidental injuries (NAIs) in differential diagnosis and to report animal abuse cases, guaranteeing, at the same time, their anonymity. We will also present a selection of case studies. American Veterinary Medical Association. Resolution #1 2012 Regular Winter Session: Policy on Animal Abuse and Animal Neglect. Arkow P. 2015 Recognizing and responding to cases of suspected animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect: what the veterinarian needs to know. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports. 6 349–359. BVA Congress Animal and human abuse: an uncomfortable link 2014 Veterinary Record 175: 579-580. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Animal Abuse Position Statement. http://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/animal-abuse. Accessed July 29, 2015. Factors in the Assessment of Dangerousness of Perpetrators of Animal Cruelty. Randall Lockwood ASPCA. Lockwood R. Arkow P 2016 Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence: The Cruelty Connection and Its Implications for Veterinary Pathology. Veterinary Pathology Vol. 53(5) 910-918 . National Link Coalition. More Canadian vets now required to report suspected cruelty. LINK-Letter. 2015;8(8):1. Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons: Animal Abuse, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence. London: The College 2003. Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Code of Professional Conduct: Animal Welfare. Wellington: The Council 2012.