Animal cruelty cases are often given less priority than crimes against humans. But family and community violence doesn’t stop at the human species line. The LINK demonstrates that violence against humans can be prevented and responded to more effectively by recognizing: animal abuse as a potential indicator and predictor of domestic, child, sexual, and elder abuse; that preventing animal abuse also protects people; and that holding animal abusers accountable improves community safety.

This presentation acquaints animal care & control, law enforcement and court personnel with how animal abuse is LINKed to human violence and how they can address violence affecting all vulnerable members of California families.