Accomplishments This Year

How Your Gifts Helped Us Make a Safer World for Animals and People in 2025

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the National Link Coalition continued to make remarkable progress this past year in helping multidisciplinary agencies prevent and respond to animal cruelty and neglect, domestic violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse, by demonstrating how these forms of family violence are LINKed. On another page in our website you can read about what the Link message has accomplished since we started raising this concern many years ago. But here you can see what your donations have helped us accomplish this year to make families and communities safer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINK LEGISLATION
2025 saw 142 Link-themed bills introduced in 32 state legislatures, the U.S. Congress and Canada’s Parliament.  We are encouraged that 12 of these measures have already been signed into law. Among our notable successes:

Georgia became the 42nd state to include pets in domestic violence protection orders.

Florida enacted “Dexter’s Law,” with tougher penalties for aggravated animal cruelty offenders, based on the premise that “Animal abuse is a strong predictor of potential aggravated violence towards humans and animal abuse can serve as an early warning sign for family violence.”

California added threats to animals in its definition of stalking and simplified procedures to include pets in protection orders for survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse.

South Carolina created a sex offender registry that includes acts of animal sexual abuse.

Tennessee expanded its definition of racketeering to include engaging others in the criminal activity of animal fighting.

Idaho created two new crimes of Aggravated Lewd Conduct with a Minor Child, including bestiality, with extremely hard sentences.

Louisiana included veterinary professionals among other health care professionals protected from assault and battery.

New Hampshire expanded its definition of coercive-control animal abuse as acts of domestic violence to include military-connected families.

New Mexico added dog- and cock-fighting to the state’s crimes of racketeering.

In addition, we consulted and submitted letters in support of proposals to:

  • Ban bestiality in West Virginia – the only state where sex with animals is still legal;
  • Expand bestiality prohibitions and allow courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Pennsylvania;
  • Define animal abuse as coercive domestic violence control in Kentucky;
  • Establish cross-reporting for Kentucky animal control officers;
  • Allow courts to award custody of pets in Massachusetts and Rhode Island divorce cases;
  • Create interagency cross-reporting in Missouri and Colorado; and
  • Clarify jurisdictional conflicts in enforcing animal cruelty laws in federally-inspected slaughterhouses.

 

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS

The Link — by definition — is multidisciplinary. It takes teams of professionals working together to make lasting change to prevent, prosecute and punish offenders of animal cruelty, intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse. The National Link Coalition is working with many of these groups on the state, national and international levels. 2025 saw much progress including:

 

LINK PROGRAMS

“Think globally… and act locally.” The National Link Coalition is constantly showcasing great innovative collaborations and programs on the local level that continue to inspire us and advance progress in interspecies violence prevention. In 2025 we spotlighted many exciting programs, including:

 

  • The prosecutor in DuPage County, Ill., created a Link-based Animal Protection Unit.
  • The Staten Island, N.Y. district attorney published a Protect Our Pets calendar featuring Link resources.
  • A Minnesota domestic violence shelter used pooper-scoopers to break ground for a pet refuge.
  • Pet-friendly domestic violence shelters opened in Cincinnati, Ohio and Bedford County, Va.
  • A pet-friendly homeless shelter is planned for Columbia, Mo.
  • A Maine shelter is preparing to provide housing for the horses of domestic violence survivors.
  • A Kansas YWCA listed threats to pets as a “red flag” for domestic violence.
  • A training program for attorneys in Tulsa, Okla. addressed The Link in animal cruelty and domestic violence cases.
  • RedRover awarded $500,000 for pet care at 12 domestic violence and homeless shelters.
  • The Milwaukee Police Department’s animal cruelty incident report includes questions about potential child abuse.
  • The Animal Care & Control agency in Fort Wayne, Ind. now publicizes animal cruelty cases to raise awareness of The Link.

 

THE LINK-LETTER

We initiated over 500 new contacts in 2025 – a 9% increase over 2024!

We published 349 articles addressing The Link. As our work in the U.S. continues to inspire advocates around the world, it is intriguing that 93 (26.6%) of these articles described research and programs emanating from other countries.

Our issues covered major Link developments in 2025 that included:

  • A national outcry saved federal funding to help domestic violence shelters build pet co-housing facilities.
  • The American Bar Association adopted a Resolution urging all governments to enact laws that protect people by also protecting their pets.
  • The American Veterinary Medical Association published three templates to help practitioners respond to suspected animal abuse.
  • The International Association of Veterinary Social Workers published Guidelines to protect people and animals.
  • The National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges developed Link bench tools for family law courts in five states, and for judges working with military-connected families.
  • The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association updated its Position Statement on Addressing Animal Abuse and Neglect.
  • The nation’s domestic violence shelters that are receiving federal funding to become pet-inclusive held their first convening.
  • The Department of Homeland Security is exploring animal abuse as risk factor for targeted violence.
  • France convened its first conference on animal abuse for veterinarians.
  • Ireland launched its first pet safekeeping program for domestic violence survivors.
  • Two pioneering Link textbooks were made open-access.

 

GLOBAL LINK AWARENESSŸ

As Link work conducted in the U.S. has continued to inspire people and organizations around the world, a major focus for us in 2025 was to tap into this growing global awareness and help nurture it – particularly in countries we’re calling “Link deserts” where one or two lonely individuals are trying to raise awareness in their countries that the abuse of animals and humans are often inextricably Linked. The results of this globalization campaign are bearing fruit:

  • 27.9 % of references in our bibliography originate in foreign countries.
  • 26.6% of articles in 2025 issues of The LINK-Letter described exciting news and research in such “Link desert” countries as Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Romania, Ecuador, and South Korea.
  • We presented a seminar to Mexico’s Asociación Hidalguense para la Protección de los Animales.
  • We helped update the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations’ position statement on animal abuse and domestic violence.
  • We liaised with leaders trying to establish Link coalitions in Portugal and Romania.
  • We assisted researchers with Link information for their work in Mexico, Romania, New Zealand, India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Nepal, and the United Kingdom.
  • We met with animal welfare advocates in Taiwan and Indonesia regarding children’s exposure to acts of animal cruelty depicted online.
  • Pilot programs will introduce Veterinary Social Work to Australia and the United Kingdom.
  • 100% of police departments in the United Kingdom now include Link information and resources on their websites.
  • The Links Group UK launched an online training course to help recognize and respond to The Link, and initiated a training program for veterinarians in Jersey.
  • Police officers in India are receiving training on The Link.
  • Prosecutors, veterinarians and criminologists are raising awareness of The Link in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Turkey.
  • France convened its first conference on animal abuse for veterinarians.
  • Ireland launched its first pet safekeeping program for domestic violence survivors.
  • The Australian Parliament added welfare of companion animals to what courts must consider in divorce case dispositions.
  • Animal abuse is now defined as family violence or coercive control in the Australian state of Tasmania.
  • The Australian State of New South Wales affirmed a resolution that animals are also victims of domestic and family violence.
  • An anti-cruelty bill in The Philippines triggered national news media interest in The Link.

A notable highlight in 2025 was a remarkable increase in Link-based academic research from other countries, including:

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

  • 14 articles promoted pet- and Link-inclusive social work.

AUSTRALIA

  • Gaps were described in child and animal abuse reposting systems.
  • Self-neglect and animal hoarding were identified as risk factors for elders.

BELGIUM

  • A Link training module was developed for veterinary students.

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

  • Animal cruelty was found to have social implications, resulting in a need for more criminological research.

BRAZIL

  • A tool was developed for veterinarians to identify animal cruelty in homes with domestic violence.
  • Link Theory was called part of One Health.
  • Animal abuse was correlated with domestic violence.
  • Cockfighting was Linked with domestic violence and child abuse.

CANADA

  • A study identified family law’s responses and barriers to The Link.
  • Veterinarians were urged to report suspected abuse.
  • The concerns of staff in pet-friendly domestic violence shelters were identified.
  • Animal abuse questions were recommended to be included in child abuse forensic interviews.
  • Custody of pets in divorce settlements is being reimagined.
  • Canine-assisted interventions were found to have mixed results.

CZECH REPUBLIC

  • Benefits were found for allowing pets in shelters for the homeless.

ECUADOR

  • Domestic violence was Linked with animal cruelty.
  • Animal/domestic abuse was called part of machista culture.

FRANCE

  • The criminological roots of animal cruelty were explored.

HUNGARY

  • A “deadly Link” was identified between animal cruelty and other violent crimes.
  • The public was found to need more information about animal sexual abuse.

INDIA

  • A change in the national legal code inadvertently legalized bestiality.

INDONESIA

  • A literature review explored childhood acts of animal cruelty.

ITALY

  • The importance of veterinary forensics was described.
  • A protocol was suggested to support multidisciplinary responses to animal hoarding.

JAPAN

  • Veterinarians reported that they need more training on The Link and veterinary forensics.
  • Pets are often also killed in murder-suicide cases.

KAZAKHSTAN

  • Animal abuse was Linked to domestic violence prevention.

PORTUGAL

  • A study of children and mothers in domestic violence shelter reported animal-assisted interventions are beneficial.

SERBIA

  • Veterinarians were given guidance on how to respond to animal abuse.
  • The criminological evolution of The Link was described.
  • A veterinary forensics study called for greater response to non-accidental injury.

SOUTH KOREA

  • A women’s studies journal proposed four recommendations to protect human and animal survivors.

SPAIN

  • The Link was cited in calling for more training in veterinary forensics.
  • The perceptions of Canary Islands veterinary students about animal abuse were explored.

SWEDEN

  • Veterinarians reported need more training on The Link and veterinary forensics.
  • A dissertation explored the impacts of pets on children in domestic violence shelters.

SWITZERLAND

  • Animals were said to be defined as “more than property” based on their inherent “dignity”.

TURKEY

  • Veterinary forensics and Link awareness are needed to better protect animals.
  • Link issues were found to be part of veterinary pathology cases.

UNITED KINGDOM

  • Humane education was seen as a way to break the chain of childhood acts of animal cruelty.
  • The Link was called a factor that is  changing the nature of dog welfare laws.
  • The effectiveness of interventions for childhood animal abusers in Scotland was explored.
  • Patriarchal oppression was identified in the animal abuse/domestic violence Link.
  • Bestiality was found to be extremely common in extreme pornography cases.

 

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Our bibliography of Link research now contains 2,535 references, a 6% increase over 2024.

In addition to the foreign research, new American research published or reported in 2025 included:

  • Identifying Link issues and barriers to reporting animal abuse in rural areas of Pennsylvania.
  • Identifying systemic barriers to managing animal cruelty cases in Colorado.
  • Examining the unique partnership between the NYPD and the ASPCA in New York City.
  • Calling veterinarians the “first line of defense” in breaking the cycle of violence in California.
  • Offering ideas to attorneys to help domestic violence survivors who fear leaving their pets behind with their abusers.
  • Surveying issues affecting Veterinary Social Workers in animal shelters.
  • Encouraging all social workers to also focus on the non-human members of families.
  • Surveying the impact of therapy dogs on domestic violence victims.
  • Recognizing the need for veterinarians to receive more training on The Link, veterinary forensics, and Veterinary Social Work.
  • Documenting the impact of animal-assisted interventions for youth offenders.
  • Studying how prison dog programs build offenders’ sense of empathy.
  • Promoting how the “pet effect” can be leveraged to affect public policy.
  • Exploring juvenile sex offenders’ likelihood of also harming animals.
  • Identifying Link issues faced by judges working with military-connected families.
  • Encouraging Veterinary Social Workers to address domestic violence and homelessness as part of One Health community medicine.
  • Recommending new rules of evidence for defendants with histories of animal cruelty.

In addition in 2025 we:

  • Wrote articles for the Juvenile & Family Court Journal, Sheriff & Deputy magazine, Annals of Pediatrics and Child Health, the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal, and the South Asia Social Science Journal, and book chapters in Forensic Interviewing: A Canadian Critical and Practical Perspective and the Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy, 6th edition.
  • Reviewed manuscripts of academic journal articles slated for publication in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, Violence Against Women, and Child Abuse & Neglect, among others.
  • Co-taught the Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence course in the University of Florida’s veterinary forensics curriculum.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Thanks to a generous grant from an anonymous donor, the National Link Coalition was able to greatly expand our in-person training opportunities in 2025. Our personnel, members, allies and advocates conducted more than 128 in-person and virtual trainings to multidisciplinary audiences including:

  • Academy on Violence and Abuse ACES Champions Health Gathering, Jacksonville
  • Academy on Violence and Abuse Global Health Summit, Salt Lake City
  • American Bar Association & American Veterinary Medical Association, Washington
  • American Veterinary Medical Association annual convention, Washington
  • American Veterinary One Health Society, Washington
  • Animal Literacy Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan (3)
  • Animal Welfare Association of Colorado Animal Welfare Conference, Lakewood
  • Asociación Hidalguense para la Protección de los Animales, Hidalgo,Mexico
  • Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children, New Orleans
  • Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Washington (5)
  • Atlantic Health System Soothing Paws Conference, Morristown, N.J
  • Besty BnB, Kansas City (8)
  • British Association of Social Workers, London, United Kingdom
  • British Veterinary Receptionist Association’s 2025 Congress, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
  • Canadian Animal Law & Advocacy Conference, Toronto
  • City of West Des Moines, Iowa
  • Conference on Crimes Against Women, Dallas
  • Connecticut Children’s Alliance Response to Recovery Conference, Hartford
  • Connecticut Department of Children & Families & Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hartford
  • Crimes Against Children Conference, Dallas
  • Dallas-area Philanthropic Funders Group, Dallas, Texas
  • Delaware Animal Welfare & Family Law Seminar, Wilmington
  • Delaware Veterinary Medical Association Spring Conference, Wilmington
  • Don’t Forget the Pets, Sacramento (4)
  • Downstate Conference on Child Abuse, Fairview Heights, Ill.
  • Equuvation, Statesville, N. Car.
  • First Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter Housing Assistance Grant Program Convening, Las Vegas Florida Animal Protection & Advocacy Association, Orlando
  • Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals, Montreal
  • Humane Canada’s ACT Project, Ottawa
  • Humane Canada & World Animal Protection’s One Health, One Welfare Conference, Ottawa
  • Humane Society of the U.S. Expo, Las Vegas
  • Indiana University School of Social Work Alumni Association, Indianapolis
  • Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma International Summit, Honolulu
  • International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, Seattle
  • International Association of Veterinary Social Work (3)
  • International Family Justice Center Conference, San Diego
  • International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association conference, Clearwater, Fla.
  • Justice Clearinghouse, Colorado Springs (5)
  • Keystone Link Coalition, Pittsburgh (10)
  • The Links Group UK, United Kingdom (5)
  • Lucy’s Project, New South Wales, Australia
  • Missouri Alliance for Animals’ Safer Together Missouri seminar, St. Louis
  • My Dog Is My Home, Ridgewood, N.Y. (3)
  • National Animal Cruelty Prosecution Conference, Pittsburgh
  • National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists Annual Conference, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
  • National Conference on Domestic Violence, Kansas City
  • National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges National Conference on Juvenile Justice, Boston
  • National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges Judicial Institute, Washington
  • National Organization for Victim Advocacy, Alexandria, Va. (4)
  • New Mexico Positive Links Conference, Albuquerque
  • New York State Office of Victim Services, Albany
  • New York State Unified Court System’s Permanent Commission on Women in the Courts, New York City
  • Noah’s Animal House, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh
  • North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, Greensboro
  • Office of Victims of Crimes Training & Technical Assistance Center, Reston, Va.
  • Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (3)
  • One Safe Place Stop Violence conference, Hurst, Texas
  • Oregon Animal Control Council, Redmond
  • Prairie States Animal Welfare Conference, Bloomington, Ill.
  • Prevent Child Abuse – Illinois, Springfield
  • RedRover, Sacramento (6)
  • Safeguarding Animal & Human Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Abuse, United Kingdom (5)
  • Saskatchewan SPCA, Saskatoon (2)
  • Society for Companion Animal Studies, London, United Kingdom (2)
  • Tennessee Animal Care & Control Conference, Chattanooga
  • Texas Adult Protective Services Conference, Austin
  • Texas Animal Control Association annual conference, Abilene
  • Texas Unites for Animals conference, Dallas
  • University of Connecticut Law School, Hartford
  • University of Florida Animal Forensic Investigations Conference, Daytona Beach Shores
  • University of Illinois College of Medicine Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team, Rockford
  • William J. Neff Symposium on the Prevention of Crimes Against Older Adults, Newtown, Pa.
  • Wisconsin Office of Judicial Education Family Law Seminar, Brookfield, Wis.