Cross-Reporting of Animal Cruelty and Child Abuse

Interesting Legislation Pending In Connecticut Would Require Cross-Reporting of Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty

The pending legislation requires animal control officers, through the commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture (DoAG), to report animal abuse to the Department of Children and Families (DCF).  The commissioner of DoAG would submit a monthly report to DCF, basically the information in the animal control officers' reports.

DCF child abuse or neglect investigations would also include an evaluation of animals in the household for signs of cruelty, neglect or harm.  The DCF commissioner would then determine if an address in the animal case matches the address of a home with an open investigation of child abuse or neglect.  If there is a match DCF would be required to make a home visit to observe the children and evaluate household pets. 

The pending legislation sounds like a good idea to me.  I'll bet that child and animal abuse often happen in the same household.  It also seems that more cases of abuse and neglect will be picked up by involving both departments, without much more cost to the state.  It will be interesting to see what happens.