What is 'The LINK '? Why Animal Abuse Should Be a Concern for Everybody
This blog is a collaboration between the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC) and Sakiko Yamazaki of the Animal Literacy Research Institute. It explores the connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, and why understanding the LINK matters for both animals and people.
What is the LINK?
As stakeholders within the animal protection community, all of us involved in this Coalition understand that animal abuse is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently. It is considered illegal in most parts of the world and is a morally inappropriate act that harms a sentient being.
However, academic research conducted over the past several decades has increasingly revealed that animal abuse is not only a concern for animals and those who care about animals, but rather an issue that is closely related to human welfare and public order.
Starting in the mid-1900s, academics have taken an interest in how animal abuse is related to various forms of interpersonal violence and antisocial behaviours. To date, studies have suggested that animal abuse is related to an array of family violence, such as child abuse, domestic violence (DV), and elder abuse, as well as criminal and antisocial behaviours, ranging from violent crimes such as homicide and criminal assault to drug-related offences, property offences, bullying, and a variety of other behaviours that jeopardise public order.
This association between animal abuse and interpersonal violence is called the LINK and has been a topic of interest to both the animal protection community and human service professionals.
The sections below outline how animal abuse is related to some of these forms of interpersonal violence and criminal or antisocial behaviours, and how this knowledge is applied to protect both humans and animals from violence.
The LINK in the digital age
Today, the LINK also has relevance in the digital environment.
Animal abuse is increasingly recorded, shared, and distributed through social media. Videos depicting animals being harmed can reach large audiences, sometimes receiving millions of views and engagement. In some cases, animal suffering is presented as entertainment, staged for attention, or used to generate engagement and income.
While research on the LINK primarily examines the relationship between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, the underlying principle remains important online: animal abuse should not be dismissed simply because it appears on a screen.
Understanding the LINK encourages us to look at animal abuse as more than an isolated act of cruelty. It also highlights why recognising, reporting, and responding to abuse can be important opportunities for intervention.
Animal abuse and family violence
As mentioned above, research has indicated that animal abuse is related to an array of interpersonal violence that occurs in family settings.
For example, studies have pointed out that perpetrators of child abuse are likely to harm animals in their households.¹ Studies have also shown that victims of child abuse are likely to treat animals violently compared to children who have never been victimised.² ³
Studies have also reported that perpetrators of domestic violence are likely to threaten to hurt the victims' pets and/or actually harm the pets.³ ⁴ Many LINK experts note that, in such circumstances, victims' pets are used by perpetrators to manipulate and dominate victims to prevent them from leaving the abusive situation.
In fact, past literature suggests that victims of domestic violence may delay moving to domestic violence shelters because of concerns related to their pets' welfare and safety.³
Similarly, research also suggests the co-occurrence of animal abuse and elder abuse. The association between self-neglect of vulnerable adults and animal neglect⁵ also seems to interest professionals protecting the welfare of animals and senior citizens.
In relation to this nexus between animal abuse and family violence, research has also indicated the risks faced by children in violent families who are exposed to violence against animals, such as witnessing animal abuse.⁶ Experts have voiced concerns about the negative impacts of such exposure to violence on the development of children raised in such environments.
Animal abuse and other crimes and antisocial behaviours
Many people have probably read news reports that claim that “animal abuse is a precursor to violent crimes such as murder.”
Indeed, many studies in the field of the LINK have shown associations between animal abuse and other crimes and antisocial behaviours, but the relationship between the two phenomena has not been completely deciphered.
There are many studies that indicate a chronological association between animal abuse and violent crimes, such as murder, supporting the above-mentioned claim.⁷ However, other studies show a non-chronological association between animal abuse and other crimes and antisocial behaviours, with a variety of crimes including theft, drug-related offences, and other illegal activities both preceding and following animal abuse offences.⁸ ⁹
Thus, in the academic field of the LINK, there are still discussions regarding whether the popular assertion that animal abuse “predicts” violent crimes accurately portrays the truth behind the dynamics between animal abuse and other crimes.
Nonetheless, a sufficient amount of literature shows that animal abuse is indeed closely tied to other crimes in various ways, which enables stakeholders to claim that animal abuse does serve as a risk factor for an array of other crimes and antisocial behaviours.
It is important to distinguish between an association and a direct prediction. The LINK does not mean that every person who abuses an animal will go on to harm a person. Rather, the evidence points to connections between different forms of violence and antisocial behaviour that can help relevant stakeholders identify risks and opportunities for intervention.
How the knowledge is applied to practice
Many stakeholders, both animal-related and human service-related, have been working to apply such knowledge regarding the LINK in a variety of settings to address both animal abuse and interpersonal violence.
There are countless examples where the knowledge of the LINK is put into practice to save both humans and animals. The following are a couple of prevalent examples.
For instance, many stakeholders, including animal protection organisations, have launched campaigns in the past working to raise social awareness of how animal abuse and various forms of interpersonal violence are connected.
If society in general becomes aware of how these forms of violence are related, the chances of more people reporting both animal abuse and interpersonal violence would increase. Disregarding any form of violence could mean missing an opportunity for early detection of other forms of violence that may be connected to that incident.
Cross-reporting
Especially in the United States, some local authorities have mandated their human service workers, including child protection services and adult protection services, to report suspected animal abuse to relevant animal protection services, and animal protection services to report suspected family violence, where humans are victimised, to relevant human services.¹⁰ This system is referred to as “cross-reporting.”
The thinking behind this practice is that, since literature on the LINK points to the fact that animal abuse and family violence are likely to co-occur in the same households, it would increase the chances of early detection and/or early intervention of both forms of abuse if all relevant professions watch out for any types of violence.
Supporting victims of domestic violence and their pets
There is also an increasing number of services and facilities that allow victims of domestic violence to evacuate and stay with their pets or provide temporary boarding for the pets of these victims.
As mentioned above, studies have highlighted the issue of domestic violence victims' hesitance and delay in escaping from abusive homes because of their concerns related to their pets' welfare and safety.
Domestic violence pet-support programmes, or safe-haven programmes for pets, provide services such as domestic violence shelters that house both human victims and their pets, or temporary boarding of pets at places such as animal shelters and households of volunteers.
Such programmes allow victims of domestic violence to secure places where their pets can safely escape from the abusive environment. They can help prevent human victims from delaying their decision to escape from abusive households while also saving animals from potentially becoming victims of the violence.
Applying the LINK to animal abuse online
The principles behind the LINK are also relevant when we encounter animal abuse online.
When genuine animal abuse is filmed and shared on social media, it can be easy for viewers to see it simply as another piece of online content. However, the violence depicted in the footage is real, and the animal involved may be experiencing fear, pain, distress, or injury.
Recognising animal abuse online can therefore be an important first step. Members of the public, animal protection organisations, platforms, and relevant authorities can all have different roles in responding to harmful content. Reporting animal abuse can help bring attention to content that may violate platform policies and, where appropriate, provide information that can support further action.
At the same time, it is important not to assume that every person creating or sharing animal abuse content is involved in other forms of violence. The LINK is about recognising associations and potential risks, not making assumptions about individual people.
What matters is that animal abuse, whether witnessed in person or through a screen, should be taken seriously.
Why the LINK matters
The LINK is an evolving area of study and has the potential to contribute to better support for both humans and animals suffering from violence.
Simply knowing that there is a connection between animal abuse and violence against humans, and spreading the word about it, may help improve our society's ability to respond to violence and support those in need.
The digital environment makes this understanding particularly relevant today. Social media has made it easier for animal abuse to be recorded, shared, and seen by large audiences. At the same time, it gives people new opportunities to recognise harmful behaviour and take action.
We should not look at animal abuse only as an isolated incident involving an animal.
Sometimes, it may be connected to other forms of violence or vulnerability. Recognising these connections can create opportunities for earlier detection and intervention, helping protect both humans and animals.
What can you do?
If you encounter animal abuse online, don't ignore it, and don't amplify it.
Avoid liking, commenting on, or sharing harmful content, as engagement can contribute to its further reach. Where appropriate, use the platform's reporting tools and provide as much relevant information as possible.
During Report It! Week, SMACC is encouraging everyone to learn how to recognise harmful animal content and take action when they encounter it.
A report may seem like a small action, but recognising and reporting harmful content is one way we can help ensure that animal abuse is not simply overlooked or normalised online.
See something harmful? Report it.
Resources on the LINK
The Animal Literacy Research Institute has developed resources exploring different aspects of the LINK, including:
What is the LINK?
Impacts of Exposure to Animal Abuse
Applying the LINK to Practice 1
Applying the LINK to Practice 2 , Addressing Perpetrators of Animal Abuse
Why Do People Abuse Animals?
These resources are currently available in Japanese.
Further reading in English: National Link Coalition (NLC)
References
Girardi, A. & Pozzulo, J.D. (2012). The significance of animal cruelty in child protection investigations. Social Work Research, 36, 53–60.
Ascione, F.R., Friedrich, W.N., Heath, J. & Hayashi, K. (2003). Cruelty to animals in normative, sexually abused, and outpatient psychiatric samples of 6- to 12-year-old children: Relations to maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence. Anthrozoos, 16, 194–212.
Monsalve, S., Ferreira, F. & Garcia, R. (2017). The connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence: A review from the veterinary perspective. Research in Veterinary Science, 114, 18–26.
Ascione, F.R., Weber, C.V., Thompson, T.M., Heath, J., Maruyama, M. & Hayashi, K. (2007). Battered pets and domestic violence: Animal abuse reported by women experiencing intimate violence and by nonabused women. Violence Against Women, 13, 354–373.
Lockwood, R. (2002). Making the connection between animal cruelty and neglect of vulnerable adults. The Latham Letter, Winter 2002, 10–11.
DeGue, S. & DiLillo, D. (2009). Is animal cruelty a “red flag” for family violence? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 1036–1056.
Merz-Perez, L., Heide, K.M. & Silverman, I.J. (2001). Childhood cruelty to animals and subsequent violence against humans. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45, 556–573.
Arluke, A., Levin, J., Luke, C. & Ascione, F.R. (1999). The relationship of animal abuse to violence and other forms of antisocial behavior. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 963–975.
Vaughn, M.G., Fu, Q., DeLisi, M., Beaver, K.M., Perron, B.E., Terrell, K. & Howard, M.O. (2009). Correlates of cruelty to animals in the United States: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43, 1213–1218.
National Link Coalition. (2024). Cross Reporting by Type (as of 5/7/2024). National Link Coalition. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
