Animal abuse: A concern for all

The aim of this book is to be a key resource for professionals who may encounter animal abuse as part of their professional lives. Some professionals will encounter animal abuse regularly as part of their usual practice (e.g., police, animal welfare practitioners, social workers and veterinarians). However, other professionals may encounter animal abuse less frequently or may not recognise it as a core professional concern for their own practice and feel less well equipped to intervene (e.g., teachers and health professionals).

This book is divided into two broad sections: the first section examines background theory and research on psychological approaches to understanding animal abuse, social approaches to understanding of the link between animal abuse and human abuse and legal perspectives on animal abuse; the second section focuses on the work of the international societies for the prevention of animal cruelty and includes chapters for professional groups, approaches to prevention and evaluation of interventions, conclusions and future directions. Throughout, the aim of the book is to provide you with an evidence-based practical guide to identifying, preventing and intervening in animal abuse.

This chapter provides a ‘roadmap’ of how to use this book, defines animal abuse and outlines who has a role in preventing and intervening in animal abuse.