Developmentally, violence against animals and interpersonal violence seem to be linked primarily because they occur disproportionately in the same households, where various different forms of family violence tend to coexist. Understanding and acknowledging that the relationship may not be as clear as some have argued, home environment appears to be a stronger predictor of the development of violence than the presence of animal cruelty. Holistic interventions to counter abusive home environments appear to represent the most effective way to break the association between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. Research documents that there is an association between the abuse of animals and interpersonal violence. Conducting a literature review, this study examined the prevalence of childhood animal abuse in the context of abusive home environments, and the relationship between an abusive home in childhood and a range of behavioral problems that might extend into adulthood. References