What About Fido?

“She (my pet) gave me a purpose to live on every day because she needed me, Animals are the only ones to ever show me unconditional love. She saved me from myself. ”

— Anonymous Victim Statement obtained from the Pets and DV Survey (2020), SHARE Committee & Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence

If you have a pet, you've probably felt the joy that fluffy-coats, wagging-tails, or whisker-kisses can bring after a hard day. Pets often selflessly offer owners comfort when stressed, companionship when lonely, and assistance when in need.

But what happens to the pets of survivors trapped in a cycle of abuse?

Research shows that domestic abuse not only impacts a survivor’s overall health and wellbeing, but also their pet's. In fact, when a survivor is contemplating leaving an abuser, pet-ownership often acts as a significant barrier to doing so.

Bottom line: When domestic abuse is present, both people and pets suffer.

Life can be Ruff, Pets Make it Better.

*Statistic Obtained from the National Survey on Domestic Violence and Pets: Breaking Barriers to Safety and Healing Executive Summary Report (2021)*

Given the nation-wide growth in conversation about survivors and their pets, KCWS is proudly sharing the knowledge we have obtained through caring for our client’s animals.

In 2021, the Urban Resource Institute (URI) partnered with the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) to conduct the largest nation-wide survey in the United States studying the impact that pet-ownership has on a survivor’s ability to leave their abuser. After interviewing nearly 2,500 survivors who had contacted The Hotline for support, researchers made two broad conclusions:

A survivor’s fear for the welfare of their pet(s) is a barrier to keeping them from leaving their abuser, finding safe shelter, and healing.
If a survivor does find safe shelter, being separated from their pet creates additional trauma.

Not only are survivors and their children enduring abuse to maintain access to their pets, but pets are also likely to suffer from behavioral and health problems as a result of the abuse. In fact, experts have noted that it is common for pets to become defensive of their abused owners, resulting in increased levels of aggression from the pet.

Additionally, these experts suggest that dogs, specifically, may mimic an abuser’s aggressive behaviors. This fact holds true even when high levels of aggression were not present in the dog prior to the domestic abuse occurring.

What about cases where domestic abuse is not reported by the survivor, but animal abuse is witnessed by others?

“But there seemed to be a turning point when my abuser began to change his demeanor towards my dog...My abuser tried to physically assault me by punching me in the face, and to stop him, my dog lunged at his arm in my defense. From that moment forward, violence towards me and my dog escalated, and ultimately my dog’s behavior seemed to shift from protecting me to becoming reactive/mirroring my abuser’s body language and aggression.”

— Survivor Statement from the Survivor Health and Resilience Education (SHARE) Program

What about cases where domestic abuse is not reported by the survivor, but animal abuse is witnessed by others?

*Adapted from the National Link Coalition*

This is an important consideration. Animal abuse is no longer viewed as an isolated incident that can be ignored. In fact, animal abuse is considered a “red flag” warning sign that other family members may not be safe. While not all perpetrators of animal abuse will commit domestic abuse, the likelihood of domestic abuse significantly increases in cases where animal abuse is identified.

The National Link Coalition, which serves as the National Resource Center on The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence, has maintained that a strong association exists between animal abuse and later instances of domestic abuse, child maltreatment, and elder abuse.

Not Many Pet-Friendly Shelters Exist, but We Don't Stop Retrievin'.

KCWS takes pride in our ability to shelter survivor’s animals so they don’t have to choose between leaving their abuser or their pet(s). However, the pet services we offer are rarely offered by domestic abuse agencies.

We have noticed that two major barriers exist for shelter agencies when developing space and services for pets.

Shelters cannot build the necessary infrastructure to house pets due to a lack of funding and resources.
Research on the effects of abuse on survivors with pets is novel. Therefore, a general lack of understanding around the importance of pet services exists, limiting agencies investment into pet refuge.

Purr-fect Solutions: KCWS’s Model for Pet Services

KCWS was fortunate to receive a substantial donation in 2012 from a single community member to develop a kennel in our shelter backyard, which would serve as a home for survivor's pets.

“The part that was most appreciated was the dog kennels. I didn’t have to [rehome] our best friend.”

— KCWS Client Statement

Since its construction in 2012, our 1,350 square-foot kennel has been home to a diverse array of pets, not only cats and dogs. KCWS has been home to hamsters, birds, and even beloved snakes and spiders. In fact, there is not a pet-type that we refuse, solely based on species. We often hear clients express their relief and gratitude when their pet did not have to be left behind or surrendered.

Physical space for a pet kennel is far from the only requirement needed to provide quality and ethical pet services. Staff should also be equipped with the relevant knowledge and available resources needed to serve survivors with pets.

KCWS has found that community partnerships are a critical facet of serving all pet types, especially large or exotic pets. Given that we do not have the ability to house all animal types within our kennel, KCWS has developed local partnerships that we contract to assist us with animal needs.

*Statistic Obtained from National Survey on Domestic Violence and Pets: Breaking Barriers to Safety and Healing Executive Summary Report (2021)*

For example, if a client were to call us stating that they are looking for safe shelter from abuse but have a pet horse they do not want to leave behind, KCWS would accommodate the client by reaching out to a trusted local horse stable provider. We would create a contract agreement keeping the horse safe and comfortable while the owner stays with us.

KCWS will also ensure that any veterinary and/or behavioral training needs are addressed through community partnerships with clinics and trainers.

Our staff first considers pet ownership during the initial screening process when we receive a crisis call. Early identification of a client's pet is critical, as the caller may not be aware they can bring their pet into shelter. They may also need assistance creating a plan to remove the pet from the place of abuse.

If a client is approved for our shelter program, and they disclose that they have a pet, that pet’s safety is continuously considered throughout their stay with us. Staff will assess the well-being of the pet while they are here through safety-planning and case management, just as we do with their owners.

Tips for Safety Planning With Pets

According to the Animal Welfare Institute, the following questions are important for agencies to ask clients during safety planning:

Does an animal—a pet, service animal, or support animal—live in your home?
Has your abuser ever harmed your pet or threatened to harm this animal?
How did the animal-abuse or threat affect you?
Where is your pet right now?
Is your pet safe?
Do you want to ask that the court grant you custody of your pet?
Do you want to ask that the court order your abuser to stay away from your pet?

Do you have anything that might help us prove that the abuser has threatened or hurt the animal, e.g., veterinary bills or records, photographs, or eyewitnesses?

Staff should inform pet-owning clients that they should consider taking the following items when safety-planning:

pet food
pet medicine
documents of ownership (receipts from adoption or purchase of pet, license to establish ownership, receipts for animal purchases)
health documents (veterinary or vaccination records)
leash
ID and rabies tag, if a dog or cat (these will also help establish ownership)
carrier
pet toys
pet bedding

If a protection order is being developed for a client with a pet, KCWS will inform the client that the state of Texas allows pets to be protected by the order:

To include pets on a protective order [in Texas], an applicant should check and fill in item k in section 6 (Orders to Prevent Family Violence) on the application form, whereby the applicant asks the court to “Prohibit the Respondent from harming, threatening, or interfering with the care, custody, or control of the following pet, companion animal or assistance animal_____________________ (describe the animal).” – Animal Welfare Institute

Let's Support Both Survivors and their Pets. Fur Real.

Pet ownership is an important factor influencing a survivor’s decision to leave their abuser and break the cycle of violence. Further, not only does domestic abuse have an impact on the health and wellbeing of human survivors and their children, but abuse can also substantially affect a pet’s behavior and chance for living a healthy life.

We understand that nonprofit organizations have limited resources that must be strategically allocated. However, given the newly available research on domestic abuse and pets, we urge other agencies to "paws", and critically consider how they can implement pet services into their programming. KCWS hopes that in sharing our insight and experiences, we may prompt other agencies to action.

Below, KCWS has provided a few funding resources that are specifically for agencies to develop pet kennels and services.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse and is in fear of leaving their abuser because of what will happen to their pet, help is available. Call Kendall County Women’s Shelter to create a safety-plan today.

About the Author

Prior to her service at KCWS as the Research & Education Coordinator, Sarah received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Having dedicated the past six years to researching factors related to posttraumatic stress, Sarah has collaborated with domestic abuse, foster care, and military support agencies. She is passionate about enhancing trauma-informed policies and practices, and is on track to obtain her PhD, Fall 2024.

Email: sarah@kcwstexas.org

KCWS Phone: 830.428.4930