We’re tackling a disturbing but critical piece of the animal crisis: the brutal reality of animal cruelty—and the warning signs it carries for domestic violence and child abuse.

This isn’t just about neglected dogs or starving cats. It’s about animals being beaten, chained, shot, or left to die—and how that cruelty often signals a much bigger threat. Studies and real-life cases across the country show a direct connection between animal abuse and violence in the home. Where animals are being harmed, children and partners often are, too.

We speak plainly about what’s happening: abusers who take out rage on animals as practice… or punishment. Pets used as leverage in abusive relationships. These are not isolated cases—they’re patterns, and they’re preventable.

We also look at how this violence overloads our shelters, strains the animal population, and creates trauma not just for the animals, but for responders, neighbors, and entire communities. If you care about protecting animals, you should care about protecting people too. And if you're a person who believes in defending what's right, this is your call to action.