zoekrupka.com

Circling the debate about egg production and animal cruelty is the cagey question of what allows us as humans to ignore the suffering inflicted in the practice of intense farming. As duck-hunting season begins and challenges to free range chicken legislation continue, what sense can we make of our continuing indifference to the plight of our feathered friends?

There is a solid research connection between human violence, particularly family violence and cruelty to animals. For over 30 years, psychological research has identified a link between the childhood witnessing of violence and animal cruelty. A significant proportion of children who witness family violence will act this violence out against their pets.

Similarly, the link between the perpetration of animal cruelty by children and interpersonal violence later in adulthood is also well established. Children who torture animals are more likely to hurt people when they grow up.

Finally, where there is violence between people in the home, pets are also very likely to be assaulted. In some US states, the link between family violence and animal cruelty is so well documented that animal welfare and family violence officers are required to share information to aid in the prevention and prosecution of violent crime.

Family violence is so all pervasive that most of us are touched by it in some way. Over 20 per cent of Australian women are still suffering violence from partners. So if we haven’t experienced violence in our own families, it’s likely to exist in our extended family, or among our friends or colleagues.