Beyond the Mirror
Welcome to Beyond the Mirror’s website

If there is to be peace in the world there must be peace in the home.
Violence in the home is everyone’s problem.
Each of us must be part of the solution.
We must do all that we can in the time that we have.

This site provides:
  • A free e-book of poetry on psychological abuse; (click on book cover below)
  • Information on unhealthy/abusive relationships;
  • How we can help as individuals and as communities.
Our mission is to work for peace in homes by distributing information about unhealthy/violent relationships; suggesting ways to help individuals in such relationships; and empowering and affirming victim/survivors.

The link between animal abuse and violence in the home
American Humane, an organization whose mission is protecting animals and children since 1877, has assembled an impressive list of studies and facts that demonstrate the connection between animal and people abuse. Gradually, the public is beginning to recognize this connection and this serious but lesser-known aspect of violence.
Law enforcement agencies and courts recognize that people who commit acts of serious animal abuse frequently have previous histories of, or future tendencies toward, violent crimes against humans.

Children and juveniles
  • Children's acts of animal abuse are strong indicators of conduct disorder beginning early in their lives.
  • A survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child abuse and neglect found that animals were abused in 88% of homes where child physical abuse was present.
  • Disturbed children kill or harm animals to emulate their parents' conduct to prevent the abuser from killing their pet, or to take out their aggressions on another victim.
  • Animal cruelty is one of several juvenile behaviors that are associated with a predictable increase in violent behavior.
  • Children who harm animals or witness acts of violence against animals are at increased risk of developing antisocial behaviors and of becoming victims of child maltreatment. Children who are victims of maltreatment are at increased risk of harming animals.
Domestic violence
  • The Humane Society of the United States reports that in 2001, 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involved domestic violence.
  • Numerous studies show that between 18% and 48% of battered women delay leaving abusive situations out of fear that their animals will be abused or killed.
  • Studies have shown that over 71% of abused women reported that their batterers had harmed, killed, or threatened animals. Usually these incidents occurred in the presence of the women and/or their children to coerce, control, and humiliate them. The children in turn admitted that they had hurt pets, and some admitted to having hurt or killed animals.
  • Thirty-two percent of battered women reported that their children had hurt or killed animals.
Information obtained from materials developed by American Humane. Additional information including studies and sources are available on the following link to American humane animal abuse.