AniCare
Studies show that there is a link between acts of cruelty to animals and violence toward humans, including child abuse, spousal battery and other types of violent behavior. Awareness of the importance of treating people who have abused animals is growing: 31 states and the District of Columbia currently recommend or mandate judges to require counseling for persons convicted of animal cruelty. We educate health, education and criminal justice professionals to recognize animal cruelty as a law enforcement issue and a possible indicator of other violent and antisocial behavior.
Created in 1999, the AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse is the first professionally developed psychological intervention program for animal abusers over the age of 17. AniCare Child is used to treat offenders under age 17.
AniCare uses a cognitive-behavioral approach with direct interventions emphasizing the client's need to acknowledge accountability for his or her behavior. It involves both assessment and treatment that address seven major concepts: accountability, respect/freedom, reciprocity, accommodation, empathy, attachment and nurturance.
Materials include a detailed AniCare handbook that clinicians use to tailor treatment to the specific needs of each client. Data collected from individual cases is used to learn more about people who have abused animals and provide feedback to professionals and the public as part of our ongoing effort to eliminate violence against animals and human beings alike.
The ASI sponsors workshops to train social service professionals in the use of AniCare, and has handbooks and related materials available for purchase. ASI Board President Ken Shapiro, Ph.D., is also available as an expert speaker on the subject.
Our Rapid Response program was launched to complement AniCare with outreach to judges, prosecutors, probation officers and others in court systems around the country, as well as to the media and the general public.
Our AniCare brochure provides an overview of the program. Click here to see the full brochure.
Order AniCare manuals and other materials here. Supplemental materials are also available, including DVDs that illustrate some of
the assessment instruments and interventions in the handbook through
role-played interviews. For more information or to receive the DVDs, please contact us at info@animalsandsociety.org.
For additional AniCare resources, please visit these links:
Anicare Yahoo Email List
Online
Courses
Empathy
Connection
Violence
Connection
AniCare
Workshop
Beyond Violence
Important Links:
