Animal abuse can take many physical and emotional forms. The same is true of animal neglect, which ranges from outright abandonment to animal hoarding. How common are these problems in America's pet-owning households, agricultural operations, and animal-related businesses? How do federal and state authorities divide up responsibility for regulating the ways in which humans interact with both domesticated and wild animals? What linkages have researchers found between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence? Turn to Animal Abuse and Neglect: A Reference Handbook for answers.

Virginia M. Maxwell is Professor in the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven. She teaches Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty and has created a graduate certificate in Animal Cruelty Investigation at the University. Dr. Maxwell is a member and contributing scholar with the Center for a Humane Economy's Scholarly Network on Animal Protection. As part of a Collaboration for Investigation of Animal Maltreatment with the University of Connecticut School of Law, she has developed Animal Cruelty Investigation trainings for animal control officers and other first responders.