The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty

Animal abuse as a predictor of abuse against humans has been documented extensively. Society's ever-rising violence has prompted experts to ask what alternatives are available to identify the early signs and stop the cycle. The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty: Theory, Research, and Application is the authoritative, up-to-date compendium covering the historical, legal, research, and applied issues related to animal abuse and cruelty from scholars worldwide. It will be of value to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, child welfare and domestic violence professionals, and animal welfare advocates, including veterinarians. Each chapter focuses on different but related aspect of animal abuse. The book provides fruitful areas of needed study and offers professionals contemporary reviews of the current state of our knowledge on animal abuse and its relation to other forms of human violence. The material will be of special value to readers interested in mental health issues across the life span as well as child development and developmental psychopathology.

Frank R. Ascione, Ph.D. is the American Humane Endowed Chair at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. He has co-edited two books—Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Application (1998), Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention (1998)—and authored Safe Havens for Pets: Guidelines for Programs Sheltering Pets for Women who are Battered. Children and Animals: Exploring the Roots of Kindness and Cruelty is his latest book and was published in 2005 by Purdue University Press. He was selected to receive the 2001 Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations and the International Society for Anthrozoology. He serves on the editorial boards of AnthrozoOs, and Aggression and Violent Behavior.