FindLaw explains how matters of child custody and visitation are determined by the consideration of what's best for the child. Therefore, a parent who is abusive in all likelihood will not be given custody and may at best be granted supervised visitation rights.
But what if one of the parents has a bad habit of kicking the family dog? Can a divorce attorney in Chicago use such information in court? First let's look at the correlation between animal cruelty and domestic violence.
Individuals who mentally or physically abuse their spouse and/or children often abuse their pet as well, according to statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence cited by the organization Jewish Women International (JWI). Abusers might harm pets "to assert even more dominance and power over his human victims," according to JWI.
The statistics cited by the organization are sobering, to say the least:
- 71 percent of women entering domestic violence shelters who also are pet owners report that the batterer either threatened, injured or killed a family pet.
- 87 percent of pet abuse incidents committed by batterers occur in front of their partners out of revenge or to assert control.
A study cited in a New York Times article concluded that pets were mistreated in 88 percent of the homes in which children also were physically abused. University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work professor Frank R. Ascione has studied the topic exhaustively:
"The research is pretty clear that there are connections between animal abuse and domestic violence and child abuse."
And since a fairly new Illinois law requires domestic abuse investigators and animal control officers to share information, evidence of animal abuse by a spouse most likely is admissible in a divorce proceeding.
Chicago family law attorneys can help you with any questions you may have about the significance of pet abuse in custody or visitation matters.
Related Resources:
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Dog Owner Indicted For Throwing Year-Old Pet Off 6-Story Roof (FindLaw Courtside Blog)
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Florida Radio Host Shoots Dog, Hits Wife Too (FindLaw Blotter)
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Contact an Illinois Family Lawyer (FindLaw)
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