Domestic Abuse and Pets: What Family Law Clients Need to Know
When clients come to us seeking help with domestic abuse, they’re often carrying more than just fear and uncertainty.
They’re also carrying the emotional weight of protecting their children, their home, and in many cases, their pets.
For many families, pets are more than companions. They’re part of the emotional fabric of the home.
But in cases of domestic abuse, that bond can become a source of vulnerability.
If you’re navigating a separation or seeking protection from an abusive partner, understanding how pets factor into your legal options is essential.
Using Pets as Mechanisms of Control
In abusive relationships, pets are often used as leverage.
Abusers may threaten, harm, or withhold access to animals to manipulate and control their partners.
This tactic can delay a victim’s decision to leave, especially when shelters or safe housing options don’t accommodate pets.
As family law professionals, we’ve seen firsthand how a pet’s welfare can be a deciding factor in whether someone feels safe enough to escape.
Legal Advocacy Is Growing
A staggering 90% of domestic abuse households report pet abuse, and 94% of cases involve pets as a coercion tool, according to research from Refuge4Pets and Dogs Trust.
A recent campaign led by a barrister, Christina Warner of 33 Bedford Row, is pushing for greater legal recognition of pets in domestic abuse cases.
Ms Warner noticed, when making applications for non-molestation or occupation orders, that some of her clients had stayed in abusive relationships because they did not want to leave their pet.
Ms Warner is the founder of Ruby’s Law, a campaign set up earlier this year to do the following:
- Amend the Family Law Act 1996 to include pets in non-molestation orders
- Amend Occupation Orders to ensure that those who have experienced or lived with domestic abuse can keep their pets
- Amend the Domestic Abuse Act 2024 (which has already recently been amended) to classify pet abuse as coercive control.
Ms Warner’s goal is to ensure that pets are considered in protective orders, custody arrangements, and housing support, so that those who have experienced or lived with domestic abuse don’t have to choose between their safety and their animals.
The campaign brought to Parliament calls for legislative changes that would allow pets to be included in protective orders and considered in housing and custody arrangements.
This is a significant step toward recognising pets as part of the family unit in law, not just in sentiment.
This movement reflects a broader shift in family law, recognising that emotional well-being includes the bonds we share with our pets.
What You Can Do as a Client
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and worried about your pet, here are steps you can take:
- Speak to your solicitor: Let them know your concerns about your pet’s safety. This can be factored into protective orders or housing arrangements.
- Document threats or harm: Keep records of any abuse involving your pet. This can support your case.
- Explore fostering options: Charities like Dogs Trust and Cats Protection offer confidential pet fostering for those who have experienced or lived with domestic abuse.
- Ask about pet-inclusive refuges: Some shelters now accommodate pets or work with fostering services.
How We Can Support You
We understand that leaving an abusive situation is never simple and that pets are part of what makes a family whole.
We’re committed to helping you protect every member of your household, including the four-legged ones.
Contact Bennett Griffin
At Bennett Griffin, we understand that leaving an abusive situation is never simple and that pets are part of what makes a family whole.
We’re committed to helping you protect every member of your household, including the four-legged ones.
As legal professionals, we understand that the wellbeing of a pet can be central to a client’s decision-making.
That’s why we take these concerns seriously and incorporate them into our legal strategy.
We believe that family law should reflect the full reality of family life, including the bonds we share with our pets.
Whether you’re seeking protection, planning a separation, or navigating a complex family matter, we’re here to support you with empathy, expertise, and a commitment to safeguarding every member of your household.
Contact our Family Law team in Worthing by calling 01903 229999 or our Family Law team in Chichester by calling 01243 781000.
Alternatively, email info@bennett-griffin.co.uk.