Utrecht University: Take animal cruelty seriously and report it
Every year, 100,000 animals are mistreated in the Netherlands, estimates the National Expert Center for Animal Cruelty (LED). These include such things as broken bones, internal bleeding and head trauma. Yet the National Expert Center for Animal Cruelty (LED), which celebrates its fifth anniversary on November 16, receives only a few reports each year. “That’s terrible for the animals that are left in an unsafe situation because of this,” says health care psychologist and coordinator at the LED Nienke Endenburg external link, “at the same time, this causes us to miss possible signals that it is not only animal cruelty but also of domestic violence and child abuse.
“Animal cruelty is often either a precursor or a sign that violence is more common,” Endenburg explains. “What if that person who comes to the vet with an abused animal is also experiencing domestic violence at home? By not reporting it, you miss the opportunity to be able to do more than just for the animal.” She therefore calls on all veterinarians, if they suspect animal cruelty, to always report it to meldpuntLED.nl. Veterinarians can upload their findings and material such as videos and X-rays in the secure environment of the LED hotline. Experts from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Netherlands Forensic Institute carefully review each report and then indicate whether it is animal abuse. If this appears to be the case, they receive a statement with which they can make a report to 144 Save an Animal. The owner’s details remain anonymous to the LED.
Not easy
Endenburg realizes that it is not easy to report animal cruelty. ‘ Vets have the idea that it can be traced back to them, but 144 Save an Animal is so busy that it often takes weeks before they are on the owner’s doorstep. Besides, I think we all have a responsibility to those who don’t have a voice.’
Awareness
Still, there is something to celebrate during LED’s first anniversary, Endenburg believes. ‘There is now more attention to this subject at the university. Since 2015 there has been an elective course in Forensic Veterinary Medicine where in the first few years, we only had a few students. Nowadays, as a student, you often must participate in a draw to take it. This shows that there is more awareness among veterinarians about animal cruelty. That is necessary to be able to tackle animal cruelty more and better in the future and I think that is a gain.