Extensive research has highlighted the LINK between animal abuse and inter-human abuse and aggression.
This insight provides professionals with new possibilities for developing strategies for reducing all forms of abuse which would include violence against children, the elderly and spousal abuse.
By identifying those who abuse animals, it is often possible to further identify ‘at risk’ individuals and families. This opens the possibility for developing supportive and informative intervention strategies which can be deployed at an early stage before criminal behaviour requires punitive sanctions. Early intervention is likely to keep the level of offending lower than would be the case without it. In turn, early manifestations of human aggression can be addressed and reduced as participation is more likely to be accepted by the perpetrator.
‘Making the Link’ Study program is the largest LINK program ever conducted and focuses on Eastern Europe where no previous study has taken place. Animal abuse is extensive in these regions with 86.3% of the subject group in Bistrita, Romania, having witnessed this in public places. Implications for such societies are being explored in this program.