SSPCA Conference explores the links between domestic violence, animal abuse and childhood adverse experience

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) hosted a 1-day conference in Edinburgh with the University to explore the Links Partnership, which draws on research and evidence to demonstrate a link between animal abuse and poor welfare, and cycles of abuse and violence towards humans. The day involved a number of inspirational speakers, and charted the history of understanding about non-accidental injuries in animals can also be suggestive of human abuse and violence. 

Overall, the need for different agencies to work together to bring about improvements was emphasised. Alongside speakers Phil Arkow (The Links Coalition: http://nationallinkcoalition.org/), Prof Jo Williams (University of Edinburgh Department of Psychology), Paula Boyden (Dog’s Trust), Mike Flynn and Gilly Mendes Ferreira (SSPCA); JMICAWE Director Cathy Dwyer also presented some of the work of JMICAWE in tackling animal cruelty and improving animal welfare around the world. In particular, Cathy focused on cultural differences in some of the places where we work, and how education and understanding barriers to making positive changes are important to bring about animal welfare improvements. 

One of the highlights of the day was to hear more about the Animal Guardians programme that SSPCA has been developing to work with children at an early stage who are showing signs of inappropriate behaviours towards animals (https://www.scottishspca.org/education/animal-guardians/). 

Working one-to-one using a set of bespoke activities the SSPCA has been able to educate children about animal sentience, animal needs and the reasons why animal lives should be treated with respect, and has had great success in changing children’s attitudes and behaviour, and improving the lives of pet animals.  (https://www.onewelfareworld.org/).

Overall it was often a challenging day to hear of some of the cruelty that takes place towards both animals and children, but also inspiring to see so many people working to make the world a better place. This is an important example of the working of One Welfare thinking in taking an holistic approach to understanding why animal cruelty might take place, and how this can be stopped.