In domestic violence situations, pets are often abused as well.

There is a connection between animal abuse at a young age and later criminal behavior. Animal abuse is not only horrific, it can also be a sign that people can be unaccountable and dangerous to their surroundings. For example, the Public Prosecution Service already wrote a letter about the shooter from Rotterdam to the Erasmus hospital. The hospital wanted to make this man a general practitioner, and the Public Prosecution Service thought that was not a very good idea because the man had already had multiple encounters with the justice system due to animal abuse. He had thrown a dog, abused a rabbit, and shot a pigeon with a pipe. Worrying behavior, according to the Public Prosecution Service. And that turned out to be true.

I started googling and came across the website of the Ministry of WVS, where it is stated that there is a relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence. Moreover, domestic violence often starts with the abuse of the pet. More than half of women in shelters due to domestic violence say that their partner also abused their animal. They often do this as a ‘weapon’ to hurt or manipulate the other person in the house even more. ‘If you don't do this, I'll break the dog's leg.’ Victims of domestic violence are also less likely to flee the house because they are afraid that something will happen to their animal. I had never thought of it, but what an ugliness and sadness.

You could recognize an abused animal by the following things:

1. Underfed or just too fat
2. Strange spots on the fur
3. Difficulty sitting, lying down, or standing
4. Skittish
5. Overly aggressive or just withdrawn

Do you see an animal that you are worried about? Then you can call 144.