State Rep. Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga Township held a town hall meeting Monday to spread a message in Ingham County: Animal abuse can be an indicator of domestic violence and child abuse.
A small group of social workers, officials and concerned citizens met at the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter, 600 Curtis Road in Mason, to find out what they can do to help.
"I just wanted to increase awareness of the link between animal cruelty, domestic violence and child abuse," Byrum said. "I love my animals. I have animals, and it made sense immediately when the link between animal cruelty, domestic violence and child abuse was mentioned. It just made sense, so once I was elected I decided I was going to run with this and let everyone know about this link."
Last year, Ingham County Animal Control Shelter treated more than 400 abused animals, said Jamie McAloon-Lampman, the shelter's director. Many animal abuse cases go unreported.
"Yes, animal cruelty is serious," McAloon-Lampman said. "It means something else might be going on."
Currently, there are three House bills working their way through the Michigan Legislature to increase legal punishment and intolerance toward animal abuse. Byrum said it's important to get a charge of animal abuse on someone's record before it turns into a domestic violence or child abuse charge.
"Animal cruelty charges stick like glue," Byrum said. "We have to get people to know the link."
During the meeting, McAloon-Lampman emphasized the research and signs to look for in animal abuse.
She said it's important to report family abuse or animal abuse whenever someone suspects it may be going on.
"There are several things to address," she said. "We have to get the community on board."
McAloon-Lampman and Byrum want to spread the message to younger children who may not know that kicking a dog or hitting a cat isn't OK.
Children abuse animals more often, and the message has to be that actions have consequences, McAloon-Lampman said.
People should look for red flags in children to prevent them from doing more harm or damage to an animal - especially if the child is torturing the animal.
"I really think it's just going to be a continual hammering of information, getting it into all of the professionals' hands but also into the general public's hands," said Maresa Tedrick of Holt, who was at the meeting. "It's hard to say, 'my neighbor's hurting their animal, come do something about it.
"But it's important to understand the consequences of this behavior. It's going to snowball, and one day you are going to have to call on something much more detrimental."
