The relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence: implications for animal welfare agencies and domestic violence organisations

Reports on the connection between abuse of animals and domestic violence and on efforts to involve animal welfare associations and domestic violence agencies in establishing safe haven programmes for the pets of domestic violence victims. Using studies from the US and Canada, the authors discuss the way perpetrators use animal abuse as a means of hurting and controlling women and children, and how concern for companion animals may keep women from leaving an abusive relationship. Describes research in Australia in which a questionnaire investigating the respondent’s own experiences of pet abuse will be given to a representative group of women at domestic violence outreach centres in eastern, western, northern and southern regions of Melbourne, and the results used to help appropriate agencies develop prevention and intervention programmes.