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Animal abuse and family violence : survey on the recognition of animal abuse by veterinarians in New Zealand and their understanding of the correlation between animal abuse and human violence Williams, V.M.; Dale, A. R.; Clarke, N.; Garrett, N.K.G.

By: Williams, V.M.
Contributor(s): Dale, A. R | Clarke, N | Garrett, N.K.G.
Material type: materialTypeLabelArticlePublisher: Wellington, New Zealand New Zealand Veterinary Association 2008ISSN: 0048-0169.Subject(s): ANIMAL WELFARE | ANIMAL ABUSE | CHILD NEGLECT | CULTURAL DIFFERENCES | DEMOGRAPHICS | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | OFFENDERS | STATISTICS | SURVEYS | NEW ZEALAND | INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE | CHILD ABUSE In: New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56(1) February 2008 : 21-28Summary: This article explores veterinarians' knowledge of, attitudes towards, and diagnosis of animal and human abuse. It establishes the frequency of animal abuse seen in veterinary practices in New Zealand and compares New Zealand data with similar overseas studies. Practising veterinarians were sent a postal questionnaire with five sections to complete. A total of 383 questionnaires were analysed. Forty percent of respondents worked in small-animal practice, 50% in mixed practice and 10% in large-animal practice. Sexes were evenly represented. Results indicate that animal abuse had been seen by 63% of respondents in the last five years with 37% of these seeing such cases once a year or less. Nine percent had seen abuse cases at least four times a year. The most commonly reported type of species abused were dogs, followed by cats, cattle and horses. Of those who had seen deliberate animal abuse in the last five years, 4% knew it was deliberate and 12% suspected this. The majority of veterinarians agreed that people who abuse their animals are more likely to abuse their children or spouse. They felt a strong ethical duty to act in response to cases of animal abuse but were less comfortable about issues of human abuse.
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This article explores veterinarians' knowledge of, attitudes towards, and diagnosis of animal and human abuse. It establishes the frequency of animal abuse seen in veterinary practices in New Zealand and compares New Zealand data with similar overseas studies. Practising veterinarians were sent a postal questionnaire with five sections to complete. A total of 383 questionnaires were analysed. Forty percent of respondents worked in small-animal practice, 50% in mixed practice and 10% in large-animal practice. Sexes were evenly represented. Results indicate that animal abuse had been seen by 63% of respondents in the last five years with 37% of these seeing such cases once a year or less. Nine percent had seen abuse cases at least four times a year. The most commonly reported type of species abused were dogs, followed by cats, cattle and horses. Of those who had seen deliberate animal abuse in the last five years, 4% knew it was deliberate and 12% suspected this. The majority of veterinarians agreed that people who abuse their animals are more likely to abuse their children or spouse. They felt a strong ethical duty to act in response to cases of animal abuse but were less comfortable about issues of human abuse.

New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56(1) February 2008 : 21-28