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Vital Subjects: The Intersections of Animal Abuse, Interpersonal Violence, and Child Abuse

October 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET

Please join us on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 2:00–3:30 p.m. eastern time, for the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center webinar "The Intersections of Animal Abuse, Interpersonal Violence, and Child Abuse,” hosted by Maggie Harris and Marlene Richter.

This Vital Subjects webinar is designed to educate participants about the unique challenges faced by victims who have pets; the correlation between animal abuse, interpersonal violence, and child abuse; and the importance of providing safe havens for both humans and their pets. The webinar will highlight the critical role that pet shelters, such as Noah's Animal House (a 2019 CNN Top Ten Hero), play in supporting survivors of interpersonal violence. This training is ideal for professionals working in domestic violence shelters, animal welfare organizations, child advocacy centers, social services, and law enforcement.

"The Intersections of Animal Abuse, Interpersonal Violence, and Child Abuse” webinar is part of the Vital Subjects series. This series will address topics that are critical to the victim services field across the country.

Presenters

Maggie Harris

Maggie Harris has worked with Noah's Animal House under the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program as a peer trainer since 2023. In this role, Ms. Harris focuses on training and developing resources for 36 victim service agencies across the United States so that they can effectively transition to pet-welcoming operations. Ms. Harris also owns her own organizational development firm, is a certified CliftonStrengths consultant, and specializes in leadership development, generational differences in the workplace, and conflict management. Previously, Ms. Harris also had a distinguished 30-year career in marketing.

Marlene Richter

Marlene Richter is a licensed social worker and has championed the development of programs to assist people and families in crisis in Nevada for 25 years. She is an Air Force veteran and is educated in social work and ethics, and policy studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With deep compassion for the communities in Nevada, Ms. Richter served the rural community as chair of the Substances of Abuse Task Force in Nye County, was a steering committee member of the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force, a founding board member of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, and an advisory committee member for the Saint Therese Center. She brings expert insight from her direct work with victims and has been a national speaker and trainer on the topic of identifying and serving victims of trafficking. Currently, she is the executive director of Noah's Animal House, an advisory committee member for Ethics in the Marketplace, and vice chair of the Las Vegas Community Investment Corporation Advisory Board. She also previously held leadership positions at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, WestCare Nevada, and The Shade Tree.

OVC's Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) provides training to support professional development, enhance services to the community, and expand outreach to victims of crime.

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