The Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services Directors (which includes Adult Protective Services) have been very supportive of this assessment endeavor. Ascione and Peak developed a draft assessment protocol (Elder Abuse/Neglect and Animal Welfare/Maltreatment) that accomplishes two functions: initial screening and evaluation/investigation. There are general questions about pet ownership, elder adults’ characterizations of their relationships with pets, and any concerns that elder adults’ might have about pet welfare. In addition, concerns elder adults might have about pet management, care, and welfare are explored. In cases where elder adult abuse or animal abuse is actually suspected, this information would be referred to the appropriate agencies. This assessment protocol is modeled on one developed by Ascione for use in the context of domestic violence. Versions of the assessment protocol have been shared with a variety of qualified experts in the field who have generously provided their professional evaluations and helped us refine the assessment questions. The full protocols and an accompanying PowerPoint presentation are available at: B Ascione, F. R. (2000). Safe havens for pets: Guidelines for programs sheltering pets for women who are battered. Logan, UT: Author. Ascione, F. R. (2005). Children and animals: Exploring the roots of kindness and cruelty. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. Ascione, F. R. (Ed.) (2008). International handbook of animal abuse and cruelty: Theory, research, and application. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. Ascione, F. R., Weber, C. V., Thompson, T. M., Heath, J., Maruyama, M., and Hayashi, K. (2007). Battered pets and domestic violence: Animal abuse reported by women experiencing intimate partner violence and by non-abused women. Violence against Women, 18, Ascione, F. R., Weber, C., and Wood, D. (1997). The abuse of animals and domestic violence: A national survey of shelters for women who are battered. Society and Animals, 5, Cook-Daniels, L. (1999). The connection between animals and elder abuse. Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled, 2, 37, Raymond, J. A. (2003). Creating safer communities for older adults and companion animals. Madison, WI: Department of Health and Family Services (Publication Number PDE-3181). Rosen, B. (1995). Watch for pet abuse – it might save your client’s life. Shepard’s ElderCare/Law Newsletter, 5, 1-9. Teaster, P. B., Dugar, T. A., Mendiondo, M. S., Abner, E. L., Cecil, K. A., and Otto, J. M. (2006). The 2004 survey of state Adult Protective Services: Abuse of adults 60 years of age and older. Washington, D.C.: Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HOW MANY PETS OR OTHER ANIMALS DO YOU CARE FOR? _____List number 4.HOW DOES HAVING A PET OR CARING FOR OTHER ANIMALS HELP YOU? _____ Consider pet part of my family _____ Provides companionship for me _____ (if applicable) Provides companionship to my partner _____ Provides assistance (e.g. guide dog for visually/hearing-impaired) _____ Provides opportunities for physical activity (e.g. walking) _____ Provides a sense of security and/or safety _____ Other, please specify ______________________________ 5.HOW DO YOU CARE FOR YOUR PET OR OTHER ANIMALS? _____ Provide food/water _____ Provide exercise (if applicable) _____ Provide routine veterinary care _____ Interact with pet or other animals (e.g., petting, playing) 6.DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF YOUR PET OR OTHER ANIMALS? _____ YES (please list concerns, e.g., “Can you tell me more about this?”) _____ NO 7.DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO CARE FOR YOUR PET OR OTHER ANIMALS? _____ YES (please list concerns) _____ NO 12.DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR PET OR OTHER ANIMALS IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM? 13. HAS ANYONE EVER HARMED YOUR PET OR OTHER ANIMALS? STATE SURVEY RESULTS. We wanted to find out what (or if) other states were asking any questions about pets at any point in their interactions with or about older adults. Our research assistant, Jylisa Doney, has helped us survey all 50 states. Preliminary letters that explained the process and research purpose were written to each of the states and introduced Ms. Doney and her role as interviewer. In her follow-up phone calls, Ms. Doney asked state representatives about any screening for animal-welfare related issues they may address in connection with Adult Protective Services or any other elder abuse screening. 41 states responded to this brief survey; states are not identified because we promised them confidentiality. Question 1 simply asks if, after hearing the explanation, the respondent feels comfortable in proceeding. Question 2: In your screening process for elder abuse, do you ask if pets are present in the home? Yes: 19 (46%)No: 22 (54%) Question 2A: If YES, do you ask about the kind(s) and number of pets? Yes: 14 (70%)No: 5 (25%) Question 3: Do you ask any questions concerning pet abuse or animal welfare in general? Yes: 5 (12%)No: 36 (88%) Question 4: Do you ask any questions about other pet welfare issues an elder adult might have (e.g. can’t afford pet food/veterinary care, hard to exercise pet, pet has become difficult to control)? Yes: 7 (17%)No: 34 (83%) Question 5: Besides your screening protocol, are pet/companion animal issues included in any other protocols or assessments used by your agency – for example, investigation protocols? Yes: 12 (29%)No: 29 (71%)  Over the past three decades, research attention to the overlap among animal maltreatment, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence has increased. One outcome of such research is the availability of assessment protocols to measure dimensions of animal welfare and animal abuse in the context of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (Ascione, 2008). In contrast, we are not aware of any empirical research on animal welfare and abuse issues related to the needs of abused elder adults or other vulnerable adults [see the lit review chart below for an example of research available on animal welfare issues]. As a consequence, and with financial support from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, we have developed assessment protocols that will shed light on animal welfare and animal abuse factors related to the challenges to serving the needs of elder and vulnerable adults. Our project activities were conducted with the collaboration and cooperation of the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services and Utah Adult Protective Services.  Information on the availability of the forms is being disseminated to adult services agencies throughout the U.S.. Additionally, a PowerPoint slideshow is available that outlines animal welfare issues implicated in providing services to elder adults and in investigating reports of elder abuse. Use of the assessment protocols may promote more accurate tabulation of information on animal welfare and/or animal abuse issues implicated in cases of abuse of elder adults and vulnerable adults. These data, should they become available, would be unique in the U.S. and we hope that this approach could become a model for use elsewhere. Frank R. Ascione, Ph.D., & Terry Peak, M.S.W., Ph.D. CONTEXT Presented at the International Society for Anthrozoology/Human Animal Interaction International Conference, Kansas City, MO, October 20-25, 2009 Text goes here Figure 1SAMPLE PROTOCOL QUESTIONS Figure 2 Our thanks to: STATE SURVEY RESULTS References Animal Welfare Issues and Elder Adult Maltreatment: A National Survey with Shelby E. McDonald and Lacey Clark, M.S.W.