July 2005

Program addresses animal cruelty

A Children’s Protection Society project provides specialist intervention for children who have demonstrated cruelty to animals.

The Keeping Kids and Animals Safe pilot aims to help about 30 children and their families during 2005 and early 2006.

It is funded by the Louis and Lesley Nelken Trust.

Animals experience pain and distress and may die from injuries or shock.

Some children hurt animals out of curiosity but are able to recognise they are causing pain and stop.

If a child deliberately hurts a family pet, neighbourhood animal or wildlife and does not stop when the animal shows pain or distress or after repeated intervention by an adult, they are likely to need professional help.

Research has shown cruelty to animals by children may be triggered by abuse or exposure to family violence.

Reasons for the behaviour include:

• Gaining a sense of power and control by taking out feelings of frustration, aggression, powerlessness or fear on an animal;

• Acting out violence they have observed—in the family or community or on television;

• Copying abusive treatment of an animal;

• Wanting to hurt someone or something and choosing an animal because it is vulnerable and powerless;

• Peer pressure or pressure by someone more powerful.

Children who are deliberately cruel to animals also sometimes hurt themselves or other children, light fires, steal, tell lies and damage property.

Persistent cruelty to animals in childhood is not just a ‘phase’ as it is not generally considered normal behaviour and usually requires intervention before it will stop.

Keeping Kids and Animals Safe aims to reduce harmful behaviours toward animals by teaching children how animals live, feel and behave.

Research has shown teaching children about animals and how to be kind, caring and nurturing toward them, can help them stop harmful behaviours by helping them to develop empathy for all living things.

It also can help them in relationships with their family, friends, schoolmates and teachers and learn other ways to deal with situations that make them scared, angry or upset instead of being aggressive or violent.

Keeping Kids and Animals Safe accepts referrals from the metropolitan Melbourne area and provides consultation for children living in regional Victoria.

• For more information or to make a referral contact Team Leader Jo Hatch or Specialist Counsellor Loretta Zuglian at the Children’s Protection Society on 9458 3566.