The body of knowledge about the relationship between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence is long, deep, and consistent. Effective responses were slow to develop, but that is changing too, and there is a growing recognition of the need to provide policies and programs to help survivors of family violence and their companion animals. What’s available? What is still needed? The purpose of this webinar is threefold: 1)To provide some background on the considerable research and experience that demonstrates the relationship between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, especially domestic violence/child abuse/elder abuse: 2)To acquaint attendees with the policies, practices and programs that have evolved to respond to the needs of those experiencing this combination of family violence, such as the inclusion of pets on protection orders; and 3)To provide a list of resources available to those who work with this group of survivors.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-21-GK-02253-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.