January 1, 2007

How to talk with your child about animal abuse

1. Keep your conversation age-appropriate.

2. Help your child process feelings about animal abuse in general or from a specific event by encouraging open talk, especially about anger and fear.

3. Tell your child how proud you are that (s)he is compassionate.

4. Continually reinforce that there is no excuse for abusive behavior to animals or humans.

5. Reassure that you are fully in support and will do everything you can to help any animals your child sees abused.

6. Join organizations that protect both children and animals, such as the American Humane Association. For more information regarding The Link® between animal abuse and domestic violence visit American Humane Association.

7. Expose children to humane education programs at early age, such as critter camp, DVDs like Animal Wow’s award-winning Dogs Wow Dogs, and books like Don’t Hurt Abby The Labby by Wendy Wyatt.

How to report animal abuse

1. Learn whether your county classifies animal abuse as a felony or a misdemeanor. More and more counties are recognizing the need for animal abuse to be treated as a felony crime.

2. Make your first call to 911.

3. If someone in authority takes an attitude that “it’s just a dog” or “boys will be boys,” then take your complaint to a higher level. Prosecutors and child protective agencies only see cases that are given to them by first responders.

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