UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Ir Vet J. 2008 Oct 1;61(10):658-67. doi: 10.1186/2046-0481-61-10-658.
Research on domestic violence has established a substantial association between intimate partner abuse and the abuse of children within the home. It is only recently however, that researchers have demonstrated the correlation between non-accidental injury in animals, and abuse of women by their intimate male partners. A growing body of evidence suggests that animal abuse can be an early indicator for other forms of violent behaviour. This research includes the responses of a sample of 23 women using refuge services in the Republic of Ireland. It investigates the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse, and ascertains if there is sufficient support service for animals and people relevant to domestic abuse. In the survey population, 57% of women reported witnessing one or more forms of abuse, or threats of abuse, of their pets. Five of which were reported to have resulted in the death of the pet. Eighty seven per cent of women felt a facility to accommodate pets would have made their decision to leave the family home easier. Four women disclosed that lack of such a service and concern for the welfare of their companion animals caused them to remain in their abusive relationships for longer than they felt appropriate. Nine families placed pets in the care of family or friends, one woman is unaware of the fate of her pet, while the pets of six families remained with the abusive male after his partner entered a refuge. The majority of women felt unable to talk to anyone about their fears for their pets' welfare. Many felt that there is no service which can provide temporary accommodation for womens' pets while they are in refuge. The results obtained support those found elsewhere in larger studies in the USA and UK, and demonstrate an association of animal abuse in households where there is reported domestic violence.
家庭暴力研究已经确立了亲密伴侣虐待与家庭内儿童虐待之间的实质性关联。然而，直到最近，研究人员才证明了动物非故意受伤与亲密男性伴侣对女性的虐待之间的相关性。越来越多的证据表明，虐待动物可能是其他形式暴力行为的早期指标。这项研究包括对爱尔兰共和国庇护所服务中 23 名女性的样本反应。它调查了家庭暴力与动物虐待之间的联系，并确定是否有足够的支持服务来帮助与家庭暴力相关的动物和人。在调查人群中，57%的女性报告目睹了一种或多种形式的虐待或对宠物的虐待威胁。其中有五起导致宠物死亡。87%的女性认为有一个容纳宠物的设施会使她们更容易决定离开家庭。有四名妇女透露，缺乏这样的服务和对伴侣动物福利的关注使她们在虐待关系中停留的时间超过了她们认为合适的时间。九个家庭将宠物安置在家人或朋友的照顾下，一名妇女不知道她的宠物的命运，而六个家庭的宠物在虐待男性伴侣进入庇护所后仍与他在一起。大多数女性觉得无法与任何人谈论她们对宠物福利的担忧。许多人认为，在庇护所期间，没有任何服务可以为妇女的宠物提供临时住所。所得结果支持了在美国和英国更大规模研究中发现的结果，并证明了在报告有家庭暴力的家庭中存在动物虐待的关联。
