Children's services professionals could be missing a trick in the fightto keep children safe from abuse.
Mounting evidence shows animal cruelty can be a "rehearsal" for otherforms of abuse. Yet not one local safeguarding children's board involvesanimal welfare organisations.
"People think if their job is to safeguard children, what have animalsgot to do with it," says Jonathan Silk, chair of the Links Group, whichaims to encourage organisations to work together to prevent and detectabuse of vulnerable children, animals and adults.
"Animal abuse can be an indicator of child abuse," he explains. "Ifthere are lots of animals in a house and they are being abused thenthere could be a possibility that children are also at risk."
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