AVMA, American Bar Association highlight link between domestic violence, animal cruelty

The AVMA and the American Bar Association (ABA) have partnered to draw attention to the link between violence against people and animals.

Dr. Amanda Bisol, who represents District 1 on the AVMA Board of Directors and has a law degree, and Dr. Kendall Houlihan, associate director in the AVMA Animal Welfare Division, participated in a webinar, "Protecting People and Pets from Domestic Violence," on October 22.

This complements a livestreamed Q&A, "Domestic Violence: Protecting People and Pets," which is available on demand on AVMA Axon for free and one continuing education credit. The AVMA and ABA co-hosted these sessions in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Spotting the signs

Dr. Bisol highlighted the importance of recognizing signs of animal maltreatment in clinical settings, such as unexplained injuries and a general lack of care or history that "just doesn't add up."

"The biggest red flag is an inconsistent [medical] history," Dr. Bisol said. Another sign that is not as common are multiple injuries on the same animal that are different ages—for example, if an X-ray of a new fracture shows a healing fracture.

It's important to be aware of how domestic violence and animal maltreatment can be interconnected, Dr. Bisol said, because sometimes, veterinarians may be the only ones to see the potential signs of an issue in a home. She also urged documenting a suspicious case with additional detail, including pictures, as such veterinary records may be valuable evidence if the case is investigated.

The sessions include an overview of how to identify signs of domestic violence and animal abuse or neglect and show how the two may be connected. Presenters also discuss how to access resources that support survivor decision-making and how to foster collaboration with local organizations and agencies that can help protect both survivors and their pets.

Collaborative effort

This collaboration between the AVMA and ABA comes after the law association adopted Resolution 504 earlier this year, urging all levels of government "to enact legislation and/or support judicial processes that protect individuals by protecting their pets in family law and civil restraining order proceedings."

"The aim of this collaboration is to highlight the roles and responsibilities of different professionals and how we may more effectively interact with and support each other and our communities," said Dr. Houlihan.

AVMA policy on "Animal Abuse and Animal Neglect" states that prompt disclosure of abuse is necessary to protect the health and welfare of animals and people.

While disclosure is important, "it is not the veterinarian's task to determine if the maltreatment meets the enumerated elements of a crime; this is the duty of the investigating authority and the criminal justice system," according to the AVMA's "The Veterinarian's Framework for Identification and Response to Suspected or Known Animal Maltreatment," a free resource for veterinary professionals.

Veterinary social workers are uniquely dedicated to tending to the human needs that arise from relationships between humans and animals. Accordingly, Dr. Bethanie Poe, associate director of education and training for the University of Tennessee's Center for Veterinary Social Work, also provided her expertise to the sessions.

Guiding future efforts

Animal cruelty has historically been considered an isolated issue that is not indicative of other violence. However, "recent research shows a well-documented link that it is a predictive or co-occurring crime with violence against humans (including intimate partners, children, and elders) and is associated with other types of violent offenses," according to a 2021 Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Bulletin. "Increased awareness of this linkage and a collaborative approach to these investigations strengthens the identification and reduction of such crimes."

One result of the growing awareness of the link between animal and personal violence is greater consideration of what to do with a pet when the owner enters a domestic violence shelter.

For example, a paper published in the May 2024 issue of JAVMA described the creation of a safekeeping program for pets owned by domestic violence victims.

Dr. Hillary L. Pearce and others found that involving at least one veterinary practice was integral, "as most pets entering the program needed vaccination, testing for infectious disease, and/or parasiticide prevention before being placed into foster homes. The veterinary practice also served as a crucial temporary holding facility until pets could be matched into suitable foster homes."

Recognizing that a variety of professionals engage with people and pets affected by domestic violence, future collaborations may add the perspectives of law enforcement and judges, who also work to support the human-animal bond in challenging circumstances.

A version of this story appears in the January 2026 print issue of JAVMA