'Paws for thought' to look at animal abuse and domestic violence

A TV series on animal law and animal welfare presented by Auckland barrister Catriona MacLennan will include an episode on the links between animal cruelty and domestic violence. Episode 3, screening on Wednesday 22 April, will include Unitec Senior Lecturer Arnja Dale, who will discuss the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) First Strike Campaign and the links between domestic violence and animal cruelty. The First Strike campaign "focuses on the connection between violence against animals and violence against people with a goal of ending both ... Animal abuse cases can expose family violence. If an animal is being abused in a family, it is likely that a child or other family members are also being hurt or threatened".

Other episodes of "Paws for Thought" will cover issues such as the Animal Welfare Act 1999; teaching children empathy; and the review of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The programme will screen on Wednesdays at 7.30pm for 13 weeks, beginning on 8 May 2013. It can be viewed on Sky Channel 83, free to air on Face Television (Auckland) or online at www.scoop.co.nz or www.livenews.co.nz.