Keeping Pets Safe in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

The connection between intimate partner violence (IPV) and abuse against animals is becoming well-documented. Women consistently report that their pets have been threatened or harmed by their abuser, and many women delay leaving abusive relationships out of concern for their pets. Shelters are often faced with limited resources, and it can be difficult to see how their mandate to assist women fleeing IPV also includes assistance to their companion animals. Through surveys with staff from 17 IPV shelters in Canada, the current study captures a snapshot of the shelter policies and practices regarding companion animals. The study explores staff’s own relationships with pets and exposure to animal abuse, as well as how these experiences relate to support for pet safekeeping programs, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits for the programs. Policy implications for IPV service agencies include asking clients about concerns about pet safety, clear communication of agency policies regarding services available for pet safekeeping, and starting a conversation at the agency level on how to establish a pet safekeeping program in order to better meet the needs of women seeking refuge from IPV.

Animal Safekeeping in Situations of Intimate Partner Violence: Experiences of Human Service and Animal Welfare Professionals

“…Not all perpetrators of IPV abuse or threaten animals, however (Stevenson, 2012). Whether or not they perceive their animals to be in danger, victims/survivors of IPV who own animals may delay seeking help or attempting to leave the relationship because they are unable to take their animals with them and they do not want to be separated from their animals.…”

Inclusive Approaches by VAW Shelters: Respecting Women's Choice to be Together With Companion Animals

“…For example, Krienert et al (2012) reported that 6% of their national survey of domestic violence shelters in the United States provides onsite help. In Canada, one of 17 shelters (6%) in Stevenson et al, (2018) survey and only 1% (four websites) of first-stage shelter websites (Gray et al, 2019) indicated the availability of such services. While many shelters do what they can, very few accommodate both or provide formal alternative services (Krienert et al, 2012; Stevenson et al, 2018; Wuerch et al, 2021).…”

“…In Canada, one of 17 shelters (6%) in Stevenson et al, (2018) survey and only 1% (four websites) of first-stage shelter websites (Gray et al, 2019) indicated the availability of such services. While many shelters do what they can, very few accommodate both or provide formal alternative services (Krienert et al, 2012; Stevenson et al, 2018; Wuerch et al, 2021). Furthermore, in Canada, VAW emergency shelters did not provide information about support for pets on their websites, even when they had some (Gray et al, 2019) or did not advise about off-site services available (Barrett et al, 2020).…”

“…VAW shelter workers and administrators identified key barriers to provide services: health and safety concerns such as allergies of staff and residents, hygiene and potential aggression and conflicts among companion animals, lack of resources including space in the women's shelters, funding to support programs, lack of animal welfare organizations to collaborate to shelter companion animals for long-term, and legal liabilities (Komorosky et al, 2015; Krienert et al, 2012; Stevenson et al, 2018; Wuerch et al, 2021).…”

Resilience: Safety in the Aftermath of Traumatic Stressor Experiences

“…While social safety nets are most often considered in relation to human social supports, there is mounting evidence that supportive relationships can be in the form of companion pets or service animals. Just as many women in an abusive situation may feel unable to leave due to concerns about her children, they may also be unwilling to leave behind a beloved pet that might not be welcome in transitional housing (Barrett et al, 2018;Stevenson et al, 2018). Owning a pet is associated with positive benefits, such as helping the individual maintain a positive self-image, increasing quality of life, reducing anxiety, or hyperarousal associated with PTSD, or even providing a basis for strengthening human social connections through social participation (Wood et al, 2015;Brooks et al, 2018;Wells, 2019).…”