Reporting Animal Abuse
‘Reg flag’ law includes Social workers as mandated reporters of Animal Abuse
House Bill 33, introduced by Representatives. Laura Lanese and Sara Caruthers was signed into law by Governor DeWine on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 1:00 PM in a virtual ceremony live-streamed on www.ohiochannel.org. This legislation requires the cross-reporting of child and animal abuse.
Summary:
As Vicki Deisner of Ohio Animal Advocates shared: domestic violence and animal abuse are on the rise during this pandemic - cross-reporting domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and animal cruelty are more important than ever. These crimes overlap and animal abuse is often the first "Link" in the chain of family violence.
When animal control or humane law enforcement are required to contact social services when they suspect child or elder abuse, a human life may be saved. When social service professionals are required to report suspected animal cruelty, they may not only be saving an animal, they may be preventing the escalation of family violence, child abuse, and/or elder abuse.
Attached please find OAA's press release. Read more about The Link:
What the Bill Does:
· Establishes animal abuse reporting requirements and adds new reporters of child abuse.
· Requires animal abuse reporting by social service workers and veterinarians.
· Directs veterinarians, social workers, and counselors to report instances of
· animal cruelty to a law enforcement officer, county humane society, or animal control officer.
· Adds dog wardens and animal control officers to the existing list of professionals that must immediately “cross report” child abuse to an appropriate social service professional -such as child protective services.
· Instates fines for professionals who do NOT report or false report
How to Report:
· Applies when acting in an official or professional capacity
o Our role is not to investigate nor substantiate the claim (what is or is not abuse or neglect). Those who report have civil and criminal immunity when report made in good faith
· Examples of where to report:
o Cleveland: Animal Protection League
o Columbus: Humane Society
o Cincinnati: Animal CARE
o Toledo: Humane Society
· Who to report animal cruelty to by Ohio county, provided by Ohio Animal Advocates:
Why Such Reporting Is Needed:
Cross-reporting can improve the community’s response to crimes against both people and animals and may also help prevent future violence. Cross-reporting requirements have been the catalyst for collaborative relationships between local family violence programs and animal control/humane law enforcement personnel and for the creation of cross-training programs that enable each community to better recognize signs of abuse affecting one another’s “constituents.”
Domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and animal cruelty rarely occur in a vacuum. They often overlap, and the commission of one of these crimes often is a “red flag” that other forms have occurred or will be coming next. For various reasons, animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect are often the first “link” in the chain of family violence.
Animal abuse is often committed in front of children—sometimes the abusers force the children to participate—in order to intimidate and control them. The toxic stress of exposure to animal abuse can result in children becoming abusers themselves and in other emotional, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral problems leading to involvement with the criminal justice system. The greater vigilance afforded by cross reporting is more than warranted.
Ohio was an early pioneer in this concept and for many decades the state’s humane societies were empowered to investigate child abuse as well as animal cruelty.
Veterinarians are critical as reporters of suspected animal abuse. The American Animal Hospital Association Position Statement on Reporting Animal Abuse reads as follows: “Studies have shown there is a link between animal abuse and other forms of violence, including a child, spousal, and elder abuse. Reporting suspicions of animal abuse is important as it will trigger an investigation that may ultimately protect both animals and humans. It upholds the veterinary oath to prevent animal suffering and promote public health.”
For additional information, please contact Vicki Deisner at 614-493-8383 or vicki.deisner@gmail.com; or Nancy Blaney at 202-446-2141 or nancy@awionline.org
Ethical Considerations
· Ensure appropriate education and consistent training
· Consistently initiate conversations about pets with clients
· Include animal abuse reporting in informed consent
· Consider potential reporting actions within the context of -isms (racism, classism, ableism)
HB 33 is endorsed by the following organizations and professionals:
· Alba Gonzalez, DVM, Rescue Animal Hospital
· Almost Home Dog Rescue of Ohio
· Animal Welfare Institute
· Animal Legal Defense Fund
· Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
· Aviva Vincent, PhD, LMSW - Veterinary Social Work Faculty
· on Human-Animal Interaction
· Cleveland Animal Protective League
· Columbus Humane Society
· Fairfield County Dog Warden and Dog Adoption Center & Shelter
· Geauga Humane’s Rescue Village
· Janet Hoy-Gerlach LISW-S, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Toledo,
· Humane Society of Greater Dayton
· Humane Society of the United States
· Lake County Humane Society
· Licking County Humane Society
· Lillian Howard, Director of Clinical and Supportive Services, LLS Choices Domestic Violence
· Shelter, Franklin County
· National Animal Care and Control Association
· National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Chapter
· National Link Coalition
· Ohio Animal Advocates
· Ohio Animal Welfare Federation
· Ohio Counseling Association
· Ohio School Social Work Association
· Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services
· Ohio Veterinary Medical Association
· PCSAO
· Red Rover
· The University of Toledo Social Work Program