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The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Interpersonal Violence: A Veterinary Perspective. In January of 2014 NYPD formally became the responding law enforcement agency for all complaints of animal cruelty in New York City. Because NYPD has always been the responding law enforcement agency for domestic violence in New York City adding the animal component to their work has resulted in the identification of many cases where there is both animal abuse and human interpersonal violence.  This presentation will provide the attendee with medical and legal information about these types of cases and illustrate important points by looking at actual cases.

Learning Objectives.
1. Know who potential victims are in a violent household and why reporting animal cruelty may help other potential victims.
2. Understand the different ways a perpetrator of abuse exerts power and control over individuals (including animals) who live in a violent household. 
3. Understand the importance of being able to differentiate non-accidental injury from accidental injury enabling the veterinarian to recognize and report animal cruelty. 
4. Become familiar with the types of animal cruelty that occur in a household where there are co-occurring cases of animal cruelty and human interpersonal violence.