The Links Group
The Links Group [ 25 ] is a UK-based organisation at the forefront of raising awareness about the links between abuse of humans and animals through research, training and support. They provide training to veterinary teams and human and animal welfare professionals and, alongside other organisations such as Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Endeavour and Refuge4Pets, provide specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services. In addition, they have expert witnesses within the team who provide testimony in cases involving abuse of humans and animals. Their website, available at https:// thelinksgroup. org. uk /, provides further information and resources.
Veterinary social workers
Since the completion of this research, the role of the veterinary social worker has been developing across the UK. Veterinary social workers provide specialised emotional and psychological support in areas such as crisis management, bereavement, professional wellbeing, safeguarding and protecting the human – animal bond.
The role is currently being championed by Links Group Trustee Rebecca Stephens, who is the UK ' s first veterinary social worker. Recently, Langford Vets in Bristol appointed the UK ' s first veterinary human support worker, Rhonda Hopkins, to provide on-site counselling and support to staff and clients.
The veterinary social worker role represents an important step towards a‘ One Welfare’ approach. Interdisciplinary collaboration across various organisations and workforces is essential to safeguarding humans and animals and addressing the link between animal abuse and domestic violence.
Veterinary social workers would be well placed to aid in crisis interventions and provide trauma-informed care, with the potential to improve multidisciplinary communication and support clients and professionals through complex situations, ultimately improving the efficacy of handling cases and the welfare of humans and animals.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Jane Stirling, her project supervisor, for the support, advice and kindness she offered, not just during this project but throughout the author ' s time at Edinburgh Napier University. She also thanks Freda Scott-Park at Links Group for sparking her interest in this area during a lecture; Women ' s Aid for supporting the study; the participants of the online study who helped facilitate the research; and her colleagues for their motivation and support.
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