Could animal abuse be a police indicator of gender violence? Analysis of cases in Spain

The concurrence between animal abuse and gender violence, committed by the same abuser, has been reported in recent years in several societies, mainly in the USA, United Kingdom and Australia. In this study we analyze this relationship in Spain, with the idea of investigating the possible use of animal abuse as a police indicator of gender violence. We have glimpsed the perpetration of animal abuse, in an instrumental way, in order to control the (ex) partner, or in an expressive way to indirectly cause harm to the (ex)partner. We believe it is pertinent to advance in this kind of studies by collecting more data and conducting qualitative analyses.