March 22, 2008

DENVER - Colorado is one of only seven sates that require veterinarians to report animal abuse. The law has been on the books less than a year, but already the impact is being felt. The law is so beneficial, that some child and family welfare experts say it could help save human lives, too.

Dr. Jed Rogers has been a veterinarian for 15 years. He's one of a majority of Colorado vets who support the state's mandatory reporting law.

“All of us got into this job because we love working with animals,” he said.

The measure requires vets to report cases of animal abuse and neglect. If they don't, vets face the possibility of being fined themselves.

“When I think we realized that we are mandated to report child abuse, but not animal abuse, it struck us as incorrect,” he said.

For Dr. Rogers and his colleagues, the law has been a learning experience. They have found that in practice, while there are clear cases of abuse, most of what they face is owners who just don't realize that what they're doing to their pets is wrong or dangerous.

“With animals, obviously you can't interview them, so you have to rely a lot on what the owner is telling you,” said Karen Spaulding, training manager with American Humane Association.

And what many vets are hearing is that there is a real need for owner education.

“It's sort of helped us think about where we draw the line,” she said. “Where does it become abuse, neglect, that sort of thing – separate from ignorance, and people just simply not knowing what the right thing to do is.”

Even so, the new guidelines have also revealed that where there is an abused animal there could also be a troubled family.

The Colorado law and others like it may help save human lives. For years, experts have recognized a link between animal and child abuse.

Research shows that 80 percent of families with child abuse cases also have a history of animal abuse.

“If cruelty or animal abuse is going on in that family household, then all the members of that family are in danger,” said Marie Belew, president and CEO of the American Humane Association.

The American Humane Association works to encourage agencies and humane investigators to share information. Citing what's recognized as a very real link between animal, child, elderly and even domestic abuse.

“We hear case after case where the mother would have left that relationship in order to flee for safety, except that the life of the pet was threatened as leverage to keep the human victims from leaving,” Belew said.

Experts see it as a cycle of violence, a problem not just limited to the affected family.

“It's not just an animal problem,” said Belew. “It's a whole family problem -– it's ultimately a community problem,” she said.

And it will take a community to protect those who can't speak for themselves.

The Colorado Must Report law waives doctor –- pet owner privilege in cases of abuse or neglect. And vets can not be held liable if they make a report in good faith.

To find out more about the animal abuse laws in your state, visit animallaw.com.

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