Pets and
Family Violence

The Link Between Family Violence and Pets

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• Nearly ½ of the women entering shelters for protection against domestic violence say their pet has been threatened, injured or killed by their partner, according to several surveys.

• Perhaps even worse for the women involved, others report they have delayed leaving their homes because they feared for their pets’ safety.

• Why do batterers threaten, abuse and/or kill animals? Among the motivations:

  • to demonstrate and confirm power and control over the family;

  • to force the family to keep violence a secret;

  • to perpetuate the context of terror;

  • to prevent the victim from leaving or coerce her/him to return;

  • to punish the victim for leaving;

  • to degrade the victim through involvement in the abuse.