NSW cop saving pets from dangerous domestic violence cowards

Police say there is a link between domestic violence offenders who hurt pets to manipulate their partners and murder. But one Sydney police officer is helping to keep animals out of the firing line.

Cowards have been caught stabbing dogs in front of children, strangling dogs, beating cats to death and punching a nine-month-old puppy in some of the most abhorrent cases of domestic violence across NSW.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal more than 250 people with prior domestic violence offences have turned on family pets to instil panic and terror into their victims.

Of those charged, more than half have again been slapped with new DV offences along with animal cruelty charges.

Alarmingly, more than a quarter of those charged have priors for choking or strangulation.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said officers on the beat who see signs of animal cruelty or neglect were on high alert that “something more sinister” could be taking place behind closed doors.

“That sort of behaviour is absolutely an indicator of someone who has a propensity for violence,” he said.

“If they can harm an innocent animal it doesn’t take much to go that step further.”

Senior Constable Jacqueline Largo with Baby, and volunteer Sophie Jones with Willy. The woman help victims of domestic violence by looking after their pets in times of trouble until they get back on their feet. Picture: Richard Dobson

Studies have shown that there is a “definite correlation” between households where there is cruelty to animals and domestic violence.

That can range from offenders harming or killing a beloved pet to threaten or intimidate a partner, to more subtle forms of coercive control, like withholding money to buy pet food or threatening to take the pets away.

In some of the most startling cases, a man from Young is accused of assaulting his ex-partner and his mother and then punching a nine-month-old puppy.

The 22-year-old was charged with a series of offences, including committing an act of cruelty upon an animal and intentionally choking a person with recklessness.

In Mascot, a 36-year-old man was charged with committing an act of cruelty upon an animal after allegedly strangling a dog, as well as contravening an AVO and intentionally choking a person without consent and stalking.

In Bow Bowing, a 22-year-old man is accused of strangling a dog when it barked aggressively to protect the victim. He was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choking a person without consent.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna says police are on the lookout for domestic violence offenders who turn on animals to hurt their victims. Picture: Damian Shaw

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said animals can also be used in less obvious ways to intimidate or coerce victims — to keep someone in a relationship, lure them back home, or punish them for leaving.​

Victims might delay leaving, or even return to situations of domestic violence because they are afraid of abandoning their animals to further injury or stress.

In July this year, new coercive control legislation came into effect and all NSW police officers have been trained to more easily recognise coercive control behaviours, including patterns involving animals, that are often hidden.

Animal cruelty is in the spotlight for the next 16 days as NSW Police join the global movement aimed at highlighting the issue of domestic and family violence — especially the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls that begins on November 25.

More than 500 people were charged with 1283 offences as part of this month’s Operation Amarok VIII which targets statewide domestic and family violence. Picture: NSW Police

Police also seized 64 firearms and 17 other weapons during the four-day operation to crack down on high-risk domestic violence offenders. Picture: NSW Police

COP MAKING A DIFFERENCE

In her 19 years as a police officer, Senior Constable Jacqueline Largo has seen countless people refuse to go to hospital or leave abusive partners because they can’t bear to leave their animals behind.

“I attended jobs at people’s homes and as we were leaving, there would be a dog or

cat and I’d try and find some food to put down,” Snr Const Largo said.

“Pets were usually left to fend for themselves and I always wondered what happened

to them.”

Snr Const Largo understands the special bonds between animals and people going through the worst stages of their lives.

“People in domestic violence situations love their animals so much and they’re often

a great source of comfort during very difficult times,” Snr Const Largo said.

“That’s why she started Paws and Recover — to alleviate anxiety for pet owners so they can focus on their own wellbeing and recovery and offer them an alternative to rehoming.

Willy and Baby have been kept safe thanks to the Paws and Recover volunteers. Picture: Richard Dobson

It’s a registered not-for-profit organisation that uses a network of volunteers to support people across Sydney, offering practical help like short-term dog walking, fostering, animal grooming, transporting pets to vets, and helping people care for their animals.

Last year, a Paws and Recover volunteer was called by a domestic violence organisation helping a woman too afraid to leave a life-threatening situation due to fear of the consequences for her beloved animals.

“She was living in the bush, in a tent, with 18 cats. Her cats had been her support through many years of extreme difficulty, and the thought of her abusive partner’s retaliation against them had kept her trapped in a remote location where she was subject to ongoing abuse,” Snr Const Largo said.

The woman’s partner “was not hurting the kittens and cats, but he was using coercive and controlling behaviours to stop her from leaving because he said he would not look after them”.

“When the victim’s partner was away, our volunteers went in and got the majority of

the cats out and retrieved her belongings, and got her to safety.”

In another happy ending, the organisation rescued a 12-month-old jack russell puppy whose owner was in hospital after being a victim of domestic violence.

“Despite being based in Sydney, we able to find someone local to get the dog to

safety

“The dog was scared from the violence and was found cowering alone under a bed,

but after fostering it, the dog made a full recovery.”

Paws and Recover does not receive government funds. Any donations go towards the care of the animals.

The NSW Police Force, RSPCA, Department of Housing, Department of Health and other mental and domestic violence services refer people to Paws and Recover.

“We ask that people consider joining our $1 a week campaign and making a recurring donation of $1 per week which will help us provide much needed ongoing support and care for our pets and their owners,” Snr Const Largo said.

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