New research investigates the value of including animals in protection orders, particularly against coercive control.

When popstar Rihanna was granted an order of protection against her stalker, it wasn’t just for herself, but also extended to include harm against her pets. This previously rare type of legal protection has become increasingly common in the US over the past decade, in recognition of the link between domestic abuse and animal abuse, but doesn’t currently exist in the UK.

According to previous research, many victims of domestic violence delay leaving abusive situations because they fear for their pets’ safety. Pets can be used to coercively control victims of abuse with threats and physical harm. For this reason, a number of charities offer pet fostering services, such as Freedom, to keep pets safe whilst their owners seek refuge.

Pets and intimate partner violence

A recent study has investigated how courts in the US interpret and apply animal-inclusive protection orders, particularly whether they can protect the person and pet from coercive control. To do this, the researcher compiled 38 legal judgements where these statues were cited, in the context of gender-based violence.

The judgements were then analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns. Over almost 400 pages, the research concluded that courts are taking animal-inclusive protection orders seriously, and interpreting them in a way that aims to protect people and pets. In many cases, judges recognised the role of animal abuse within coercive control as part of intimate partner violence.

Companions, not property

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviours which exert power over a person, such as isolation, surveillance, humiliation and intimidation. Coercive control can be difficult for those around, or even the person experiencing it, to recognise, as it can get worse over time. It is also difficult to prove and prosecute as laws have traditionally focused on physical violence.

Recognising that pets are not merely property is a positive step towards understanding the full scope of abuse. Judges are increasingly seeing that animal abuse is part of a larger story, and can establish a pattern of escalation and act as a warning sign for future violence. However, there is a need for more shelters for people fleeing domestic violence to accept pets, recognising not only the danger that the animals are in, but also the emotional benefit of keeping owners and pets together.

Animal-inclusive protection orders

Historically, the legal system has treated harm to animals as separate from domestic violence, but even as awareness of coercive control continues to grow, there is a need to further recognise animal abuse as not just property damage, but a red flag for control, especially beyond the US.

The findings of this study show that judges in the US are recognising the role of animal abuse in coercive control, and using animal-inclusive protection orders to keep people and pets safe. However, there is a need to expand this to all 50 states, and to introduce these types of statues to other countries, where there are a lack of specific legal mechanisms to protect pets.

Key study findings:

• Courts are increasingly recognising the role of animal abuse in domestic violence
• Animal-inclusive protection orders help to keep people and pets safe
• Animal abuse was often used as grounds for the protection order