FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) — October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) is highlighting the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse.
In 2024, FWACC investigated 123 animal cruelty cases, with 17 involving suspected non-accidental blunt force trauma. Many acts of violence go unreported due to fear, emphasizing the importance of reporting suspected abuse. “Violence toward animals is often a ‘predictor crime,'” said Phil Arkow, coordinator of the National Link Coalition.
Amy-Jo Sites, Director of FWACC, said these cases often occur in domestic situations, where animals are used for control and emotional manipulation. “These types of calls could be a predictor of future crimes against others in the home,” Sites said…