Coercive Control and Abused Women’s Decisions About Their Pets When Seeking Shelter

Abstract

The importance of pets in families, especially during major life stressors, is well documented. Research suggests links between pet ownership and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study explored abused women's decisions about pets when seeking help from a shelter. Interviews were conducted with 19 women who were pet owners. Using grounded theory methods, two patterns emerged surrounding abusers' treatment of pets, bonds to pets, women's decisions about pets upon seeking shelter, and future plans for pets. The presence of coercive control was central to these patterns. Women also discussed their experiences with and needs from shelter professionals and veterinarians with implications for practice.

A Template Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Experiences of Animal Maltreatment: Implications for Safety Planning and Intervention

“…Scholars have theorized that animal abuse by IPV perpetrators is a mechanism of coercion to influence an intimate partner, a reactive disciplinary response to animal behavior, and/or a co-occurring form of family violence (DeGue, 2011; Hardesty, Khaw, Ridgway, Weber, & Miles, 2013). Although research in this area is limited, such hypotheses have been supported empirically through quantitative and qualitative findings.…”

“…To this end, a small body of qualitative research has provided evidence that various aspects of animal maltreatment (e.g., coercive tactic to influence partner, co-occurring form of family violence, reactive physical punishment of animal) often intersect and overlap within IPV-affected households, resulting in significant negative implications for survivors’ well-being (e.g., Flynn, 2000b; Hardesty et al, 2013; Tiplady, Walsh, & Phillips, 2015). For example, Flynn (2000b) conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 10 women residing in a U.S. DV shelter.…”

“…The author reported the following themes across participants: companion animals are seen as family members by IPV survivors, companion animals were subject to a range of abusive behavior by IPV perpetrators, women delay leaving their abusive relationship due to concerns about animals, and women miss and worry about animals left behind after entering shelter. Similarly, Hardesty et al (2013) conducted qualitative interviews with 19 women residing in a U.S. DV shelter and reported that IPV perpetrators’ use of pets as a control tactic was an important factor that influenced women’s safety planning.…”

Investigating cruelty to animals in private and commercial settings

“…The importance of a non-threatening approach by veterinarians wishing to ask about domestic violence has been emphasised by women in previous research (Hardesty, Khaw, Ridgway, Weber and Miles, 2013 Regarding reasons for perpetration of animal abuse, one of the three reasons, to upset the women, was asked as a direct question, whereas the other two, to control the animal and increase the animal's toughness, were inferred from responses concerning the nature of the abuse. In future research open questions could be used to allow…”

“…Apart from research by , Hardesty, Khaw, Ridgway, Weber and Miles (2013) and Tiplady, Walsh and Phillips (2012), most existing research on domestic violence and animal abuse has not enquired as to whether the exposed animals has displayed any behavioural changes as a result of the exposure. Whilst the behaviour of stressed 1 animals has been described in the veterinary behaviour literature (e.g.…”