Asbury Researchers Share the Link Between Human and Animal Welfare
On Thursday, March 5, the Asbury University Social Work Department hosted an event called “Human and Animal Welfare: The LINK and the Response,” which spoke against human and animal violence.
Asbury University (AU) Professor of Social Work Dr. Michelle Asbill coordinated the event, and Diane Parrish (Making a Difference Now Founder and President) sponsored the event.
Guest speakers at Asbury included Joye Keeley (retired Louisville Metro Police Lieutenant) and Augusta O’Reilly (President of the International Association of Veterinary Social Workers).
The AU event focused on advocating for vulnerable people who have no power to speak up. Discussions included children, individuals with disabilities, elderly, victims of abusive relationships, and animals with an emphasis on horses, dogs, and cats.
This on-campus event was a powerful and practical learning opportunity for Asbury University students that the vulnerable can receive help through prevention, intervention, and restoration.
Keeley shared two important mantras at the event to Asbury students. The first is that focus should be on the perpetrator’s abuse, not the victim’s species. The second is that no victim should be left behind.
As believers, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. This means being equipped and trained to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate complex situations.”
Many guests from Jessamine and surrounding counties attended and represented human and animal welfare at the event. Guests included: Jessamine County Animal Control, Jessamine County Human Society, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, Making a Difference Now, Puppy Love KY, Nicholasville PD Victim Advocate, Kentucky Coalition for Animal Protection, and many of Asbury’s Social Work and Equine students.
A special guest appearance included Ethan Almighty, a Presa Canario who made a miraculous recovery after being abused and left for dead. A team rescued Ethan, and a kind man named Jeff adopted him. Ethan and Jeff now travel throughout Kentucky and beyond to attend court cases pertaining to animal crimes, with Ethan becoming the face of the growing animal welfare movement in Kentucky. Netflix currently plans to make a movie about Ethan’s journey.
“Most people involved in animal welfare are middle-aged and older white women, so having a room full of students meeting with professionals and volunteers in the field is fabulous,” said Parrish.
Last August, Asbill, Parrish, Brenda Rosen (from Kentucky Social Work Advocacy, Justice, and Leadership), and Joye Keeley (Founder of KY Link Coalition) started the group Kentucky Human-Animal Welfare Coalition (KY-HAWC). This group draws human and animal welfare providers and community members to discuss the LINK: a body of evidence that suggests an association exists between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. The group will discuss the LINK in light of state and local policy.
The Asbury University Social Work Department offers a major in social work, two minors (in human and social services as well as international human and social services), and an online major in social work. Learn more.
The Asbury University Shaw School of Sciences includes five departments: Biology & Chemistry, Equine Studies, Exercise Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, and Nursing. Asbury’s Department of Equine Studies includes undergraduate majors in Equine Assisted Services, Equine Science, and Equine Studies and undergraduate minors in Equine Business Management and Equine Studies.