Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
'Battered pets': sexual abuse.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Munro, H M & Thrusfield, M V
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies · United Kingdom
Plain-English summary
A study in the UK looked at cases of non-accidental injuries in small pets and found that about 6 percent of the 448 cases reported were linked to sexual abuse. Most of these cases involved dogs, with some also affecting cats and other animals. Signs that led veterinarians to suspect sexual abuse included the nature of the injuries, the behavior of the pet owner, witness statements, and confessions from the abuser. The injuries varied widely, with some being very severe, like genital trauma, while others showed no clear signs of harm. The findings highlighted that the types of injuries seen in these pets were similar to those found in cases of abuse in humans.
Abstract
A study of non-accidental injury in small animals in the UK, based on responses from a random sample of small animal practitioners, identified 6 per cent of the 448 reported cases as being sexual in nature. Twenty-one cases occurred in dogs, five in cats and two in unspecified species. Reasons for suspecting sexual abuse were: the type of injury; behaviour of the owner; statements from witnesses; and admission by the perpetrator. Types of injury included vaginal and anorectal penetrative (penile and non-penile) injury, perianal damage, and trauma to the genitals. Some injuries (such as castration) were extreme, and some were fatal. In contrast, other cases revealed no obvious damage. The type and severity of injuries were similar to those described in texts on child abuse and human forensic pathology.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11480898/