RSPCA’s Safe Beds for Pets Program for pets escaping DV

AN Australian study revealed that 53 per cent of women entering a refuge to escape domestic violence and abuse reported their pets had been harmed, vet Anne Fawcett writes.

News Local Vet columnist Anne Fawcett with her dog "Phil". Picture: John Appleyard

IT IS a tragic fact that humans and pets are often victims of domestic violence.

An Australian study revealed that 53 per cent of women entering a refuge to escape domestic violence and abuse reported their pets had been harmed. The deliberate harming of an animal by a household member is a known marker for interpersonal violence.

Studies repeatedly show that many victims of domestic violence won’t leave a harmful situation for fear of what will happen to their animals. It is for this reason that the RSPCA runs a Safe Beds for Pets Program.

In its ambitious plans for a mega Animal Rehoming Centre, Blacktown City Council has included a wing dedicated to the housing of pets of victims domestic violence.

Tired labrador retriever is lying in the bed.

But there is another source of help. Our clinic was visited by our local Domestic Violence Liaison Officers (DVLO), members of the police force who are trained to help victims. While they aren’t vets, they can refer pet owners to pet-friendly services and resources to ensure their animals are safe.

With your consent, your veterinarian can also contact the local DVLO. No one deserves to be the victim of abuse or violence.

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.

Read her blog: smallanimaltalk.com