Are you concerned that a patient has been deliberately harmed? Need advice on what to do if you ever face such a situation?
We are delighted to have the support of The Ralph veterinary referral centre to bring you The Link Between Abuse of Animals and Abuse of People: The Veterinary Team, a free online webinar presented by The Links Group’s founding trustees, Chair Paula Boyden and Vice-Chair Vicki Betton.
The Ralph is the UK’s largest independent (non-university, non-corporate) specialist referral centre for cats and dogs in Marlow, Buckinghamshire providing a range of twelve clinical services and a 24/7/365 Emergency and Critical Care department. Since 2001, The Links Group has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the link between the abuse of people and animals in the UK. The Ralph has partnered with The Links Group to raise awareness of this important topic.
Thanks to The Ralph, Paula and Vicki will discuss the complexities of abuse and provide guidance on navigating these delicate situations in the workplace as a veterinary professional.
The session will also highlight the strength of the human-animal bond, the role of veterinary professionals and how we can safely intervene if abuse of any nature is suspected.
Booking for this webinar is available here. Further Links Group training opportunities can be found on our training pages and upcoming events are detailed here. More information about The Ralph’s busy schedule of events can be found here.
During this free webinar, we will explore:
- The link between abuse of animals and abuse of people. The link between animal abuse and domestic abuse is well documented, with pets often used as part of coercive control by perpetrators. This includes the threat of – or actual – harm to the family pet.
- Diagnosis of non-accidental injury in animals (NAI). The diagnostic indicators for NAI are exactly that, they are not pathognomonic, which contributes to these being challenging cases.
- Reporting suspected abuse: client confidentiality. There is understandable concern about breaching client confidentiality. The supporting guidance of the RCVS code of professional conduct specifically addresses suspected abuse.
- Staying within our area of expertise. It is not the role of the veterinary team to definitively prove that an animal has been abused but to report concerns accordingly. The same applies to deciding how cases should be addressed, and dealing with human abuse (either suspected or through disclosure from a client). Signposting information will be provided.
Together, let us feel empowered with informed advice on how to protect our non-human friends.
This webinar will include discussions on the mistreatment of animals and people. We understand these topics can be distressing, so please do feel free to step away from the session if you feel overwhelmed, and details of organisations offering support are available here.
