"One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it." - Anthropologist Margaret Mead

More and more studies are showing that people who abuse animals rarely stop there. Join HSHV and Animals and Society Institute to learn about this connection, how to recognize it, and what to do about it.

Morning Workshop: 9:30-11:30 

Animal Abuse, Interpersonal Violence and Antisocial Behavior: What You Need to Know  

Ideal for social service providers, prosecuting attorneys, and those in criminal justice, this training will help attendees understand the dynamics behind and relevance of animal abuse. You'll gain an understanding of the relationship between animal abuse and other forms of antisocial behavior, learn important information on the state’s animal cruelty laws, and walk away with screening questions and approaches that can be used to identify situations in which people and animals may be at risk. We will discuss what to do if concerns about animal abuse are identified and present information on interventions, including the AniCare model of treatment, which is based on empirically-supported techniques for behavior change. 

Afternoon Workshop  12:30-3:30pm

Children and Animal Abuse: What You Need to Know 

Ideal for professionals from a range of disciplines who work with youth, including social workers, attorneys, probation officers, judges, school counselors, teachers, child care providers, and community members, this workshop will delve into the growing body of research on the relationship between animal abuse and other types of antisocial behavior, focusing on animal abuse as an important risk factor in children. Participants will learn about animal abuse as an early marker for conduct disorder and research that suggests animal abuse may be related to other adverse childhood experiences, including maltreatment. Using case studies and video vignettes, we will explain why all professionals working with children should be aware of animal abuse as a risk factor for children. We will discuss what professionals should look for and the types of questions that can be asked to evaluate the relationship between clients and animals. 

Program Fee:  The fee for this program is $50 per person (full day, lunch on your own), $25 (morning only 9:30-11:30) or $35 (afternoon only 12:30-3:30pm)  and must be paid at the time of registration. Fees include all materials. All fees are non-refundable. For information on free registration, please contact Karen Patterson, karenp@hshv.org 

For questions, please contact Karen Patterson at 734-661-3575 or karenp@hshv.org.