New booklet explores links between animal abuse and children’s well-being

Pets play a key role in the health of families and communities. In homes where they’re loved and respected, animals can help children develop such crucial traits as empathy and interpersonal skills. Conversely, an abused pet often indicates that a family is prone to other types of violence and neglect as well.

The connections between animal abuse and children’s welfare are explored in “A Common Bond: Maltreated Children and Animals in the Home,” a new booklet by Mary Lou Randour, who heads the Department of Human/ Animal Relations: Education & Outreach for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and Howard Davidson, director of the American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law. The guide is published by the American Humane Association in cooperation with The HSUS, the ABA, and Action for Child Protection.

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