Pets in crisis: How is pet ownership and domestic violence linked?

Content warning: the following story contains details some listeners may find distressing.

Almost 70 percent of Australian households include pets. This comes as rates of family and domestic violence show 1 in 4 women have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate-partner-violence.

Rising concern around pets in these situations continues, with a new report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies revealing fear for pet safety can prevent or delay victims of domestic violence leaving a perpetrator.
How else are pets a factor in FDV situations? And, how should they be considered in safety-planning and policies?

If you or anyone you know is affected by domestic or family violence, help is available, please phone 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. For Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people please phone 13YARN on 13 92 76.

Image: Pexels: Samson Katt

Produced By: Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: Kylie Butler – Report Co-author and Research Officer at the Australian Institute of Family Studies , Monique Dam – CEO Lucy’s Project, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 6th June 2024