Announcements

New Animal Protection Law in Colorado -- The new law, for which Dr. Ascione provided testimony, includes animals in civil protection orders. Click here.

Denver Post features IHAC The Institute for Human-Animal Connection was recently featured in the Denver Post. Click here.

GSSW Magazine

Read about the Institute in the spring issue of 2010 GSSW MAGAZINE. Click here.

The Human-Animal Bond: Understanding the Intricate Relationship Between People and Animals -- This new course was taught fall quarter 2009 at the University of Denver by Professor Philip Tedeschi.  Click here.

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In The News - National

TEDxTEDxDU Showcases What DU has been "duing" in the world

Professor Philip Tedeschi speaks about the role animal abuse
plays in domestic abuse cases

DU Today  - 5/19/2010

 

Click here to see the TEDxDU video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inhuman Budget Cuts:
Animal advocates say cut-backs to animal services
could jeopardize public safety
Baltimore City Paper (5/5/2010)

Fear Poster"If the City of Baltimore seeks to eradicate drug violence, gang violence, child abuse, and spousal abuse, it must also eradicate animal abuse, for when one encounters animal abuse or dogfighting, one of the former scourges is likely to be present. Stamping out animal abuse is one of the most effective crime prevention tools available to law enforcement,"  so says Baltimore's Anti-Animal Abuse Task Force.  An increasing number of studies show there is a correlation between animal abuse and other kinds of violence.  Despite that the City of Baltimore is moving to drastically cut the budget of the city's Animal Control agency as well as the grant to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.

The Baltimore City Paper article quotes Frank Ascione, who at one point provided training to Baltimore city Agencies and social-service organizations on the overlap between animal abuse and interpersonal violence.  Baltimore officials were once well aware of this link, but budget cutters seem to have forgotten. 

Ascione says he still uses a poster developed in Baltimore in his work. Once in heavy circulation, it shows a woman, a child, and a dog cowering in a corner under a menacing, presumably male, shadow. It reads love should not mean fear, and domestic violence includes every member of the family. It includes contact information for the police department, counseling and domestic violence organizations, and the Snyder Foundation for Animals.

 

Animal Abuse as Clue to Additional Cruelties
New York Times Article (3/18/2010)

This recent New York Times Article deals with the growing realizationg that people who abuse animals often go on attack people.  As a response to this realization, states are increasing the penalties for animal cruelty and improving tracking of these offenders.  Some 27 states now have laws to protect animals from convicted animal abusers.  IHAC Executive Director Frank Ascione is quoted in the article.  Click here to read the full article.