In order to disrupt the cycle of violence, it appears that all forms of family violence need to be addressed in order for change to occur. Animal abuse is one form of family violence that is just beginning to be acknowledged as a critical mental health and societal issue. Therapists will need to address animal abuse as it occurs in families, as well as be responsive to clients who report being a victim or perpetrator of animal abuse. However, first and foremost, education about the nature and importance of animal abuse is critical for both the general population as well as for therapists who work with those who witness (or are threatened) animal abuse. It appears that survivors of abuse, whether witnesses or direct recipients of the abuse, are impacted in similar ways. There are parallels in both the short- and long-term effects regardless of the type of abuse, including post-traumatic stress symptoms as indicated by depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-blame, self-destructive, risk-taking, or externalizing symptoms seen through inappropriate expression of anger or delinquency. It is proposed that witnessing, being threatened with, or forced to commit animal abuse constitutes an important form of abuse with both short- and long-term effects. Similar to the impact of other forms of abuse, comparable effects could exist for both the human and nonhuman survivors of animal abuse. References