Animals as a Strategy of Coercive Control: Protecting Animals, Protecting People

Research findings and practice experience provide compelling evidence that animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse is a tactic of coercive control and an act of animal cruelty (Arkow, 2014; Barrett et al, 2017; DeGue et al, 2009; Fitzgerald et al, 2019; Newberry, 2017; Richards, 2009, Wakeham, 2025). Although the link between domestic abuse and animal abuse is uncontested, it is an issue that is often not translated into practice. A humancentric approach dominates definitions and understandings about domestic abuse, and this focus on the human victim-survivors in isolation undermines the status of the animal and the importance of the animal in the dynamics of abuse. There are many parallels between the abuse of people and animals. Animals are physically, sexually and emotionally abused, neglected and murdered by perpetrators of domestic abuse, often without conviction or consequence. Animal cruelty in the context of domestic abuse is a ‘red flag’ indicator of serious harm and homicide to adults and children in the household (Arkow, 2014; Barrett et al, 2017; DeGue et al, 2009; Fitzgerald et al, 2019; Newberry, 2017; Richards, 2009, Wakeham, 2025). To better safeguard victim-survivors of domestic abuse, we must move toward a more integrated approach to safeguarding between veterinary, animal welfare and human welfare sectors.

Learning Outcomes:-

- To understand why attention to domestic animals (pets) matters in social work.

- To increase understanding about how and why perpetrators harm and abuse animals to coerce and control human victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

- To understand the underpinning theoretical, policy and legislative framework in promoting the wellbeing and safety of people and animals in the context of domestic abuse.

- To promote the importance of considering animals in assessments and safety plans of families experiencing domestic abuse and provide professionals with practical tools and resources to do this.

- Professional responsibilities our duty of care and reporting procedures.

The Links Group is a national organisation (charity number 1196067) that raises awareness about the link between the abuse of people and animals and how to safeguard all victim-survivors through collaboration, research, training and advocacy. Each year, we train thousands of professionals across a wide range of disciplines, including veterinary and animal welfare teams and human welfare professionals. Our team are subject matter experts in this area, and we have expert witnesses within the team providing crucial testimony in cases involving the abuse of people and animals. Our specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services set best practice standards and provide support for those working across the UK in this highly specialised area.

Trainer bios:

Rebecca Stephens, Associate Professor in Social Work, University of Sussex Rebecca has 30 years in Social Work with experience as a front-line practitioner, consultant, and educator in Australia and England. Her teaching and research focus is on the human-animal bond, pet loss and bereavement, ‘The Link’ between the abuse of people and animals, and human and animal welfare and safeguarding. Rebecca is developing interdisciplinary partnerships across social work, veterinary, and animal welfare sectors to promote knowledge exchange, curriculum development, and education and training opportunities to support the development of Veterinary Social Work in the UK. She is the Director of Education with the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and a Trustee with The Links Group and Our Special Friends, UK.

Dr Mary Wakeham, CEO and Founder of Refuge4Pets. Mary has over 15 years practice experience working in the domestic abuse sector, including founding Refuge4Pets in 2017 driven by her passion to enable freedom from domestic abuse for all victim-survivors (people and animals). She is also an academic researcher with a specialism in the dynamics and implications of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse, more specifically animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control.

Amy Hyde National Lifeline Service Manager, Cats Protection. Amy has been delivering specialist pet fostering services to survivors of domestic abuse for over 12 years, overseeing both the Dogs Trust Freedom Project and more recently the specialist cat fostering service at Cats Protection, Lifeline. During this time, Amy led the significant expansion of the Freedom Project to an almost UK-wide service, and more recently moved to Cats Protection to lead Lifeline expansions across the UK. Amy is the Chair of the Links Pet Fostering Group – a coalition of specialist pet fostering services operating in the UK. Amy has a background in animal behaviour and welfare, holds a Women’s Aid domestic abuse qualification and volunteers on a national domestic abuse helpline.

Dr. Andrea Lynch, BVSc PhD PGCertSAM (Dist) MRCVS FRSPH Andrea qualified as a vet from Bristol in 2001, completed her PhD there in 2011, and has a wide range of clinical and non-clinical experience. She is passionate about education and research, raising awareness of the link between animal abuse and domestic and child abuse, and the need for effective multi-agency working. She sits on the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Audit & Risk Committee, the North of Ireland Veterinary Association Council, the board of the Foyle Family Justice Centre, and is a volunteer in the NSPCC Schools Service.

BASW will donate 50% of non VAT ticket income to the Links Group - https://thelinksgroup.org.uk/

Delivered via MS Teams.

Corporate multi booking rates available - contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk for details