HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 6

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Jim Dines

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONSIDER TRAINING ON THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL ABUSE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE IN TRAINING DELIVERED TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL.

     WHEREAS, many studies have shown the strong correlation between animal abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse; and

     WHEREAS, often, when one form of violence or abuse is present in a family, other forms are also present or are likely to exist in the future; and

     WHEREAS, studies have shown that:

          A. seventy-six percent of animal abusers also abuse another family member;

          B. seventy-one percent of domestic violence shelter residents with companion animals report that their abuser had injured, maimed, killed or threatened their family's companion animals as a form of retaliation or to exert psychological control over the victim;

          C. thirty-two percent of domestic violence shelter residents with companion animals report that their children had harmed or killed animals;

          D. people who have a history of animal abuse are approximately three times more likely to commit a violent crime; and

          E. nearly fifty percent of victims of domestic violence delay leaving their abusers because of their concern for the safety and welfare of their companion animals; and

     WHEREAS, animal abuse is often the most publicly visible sign of family violence and is, therefore, an important indicator of abuse that may be perpetrated in a home against children, adults and elders; and

     WHEREAS, the children, youth and families department and the department of public safety employ many dedicated workers whose jobs include the delivery of services and the performance of duties in homes throughout the state, and those workers are uniquely positioned to identify instances of family abuse, including animal abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse; and

     WHEREAS, training for workers in those departments on how to identify signs of abuse of animals could help highlight and prevent existing or potential child abuse, domestic violence or elder abuse;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department and the department of public safety be requested to consider training on the link between animal abuse and family violence in the departments' training curricula for field workers and all other appropriate staff members; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of children, youth and families and public safety.

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