FAIRBORN — Sometimes lost in the investigation of child abuse is the dog or cat cowering in the corner or hiding under the kitchen table.

Local animal welfare workers and children's advocates hope that will change.

More than 100 people from the Miami Valley gathered Tuesday, Sept. 30, to study that issue in a conference at the Holiday Inn titled, "Exploring the relationship between child abuse and animal cruelty."

"It's a well-established link that we're aware of," said Libby Nicholson, director of CARE House, the children's advocacy center in Dayton composed of local law enforcement, prosecutors, children's services officials and health care professionals.

Experts at the conference noted that 88 percent of homes with physically abused children also have abused or neglected pets, a harsh reality that can be invaluable to investigators.

Dr. Barbara Boat, from the University of Cincinnati, spoke about a 5-year-old child too afraid to talk about the sexual abuse he suffered from a family acquaintance. But when asked about his pets, the boy spoke openly about the man abusing his dog. He then opened up about his own abuse.

"Until we start asking the question of children and families about their animal-related experiences we are not going to know what is going on," said Boat, executive director of the Childhood Trust for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Ohio law requires animal welfare workers to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to children's services, but the reverse isn't true. Conference attendees Tuesday said that by working more closely together they hope to better protect children and animals and increase prosecutions.

"Violence doesn't know species, it crosses the board," said Brian Weltge, executive director of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, the conference's cosponsor with CARE House. "We can't allow it to happen in our communities and neighborhoods and part of stopping it is being aware of it."

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