Protecting pets from harm could literally save human lives. Research conducted by Refuge4Pets in 2021 found that a staggering 90% of households experiencing domestic abuse reported that animals were also abused by perpetrators, with 12% of these cases resulting in the pet being killed. These statistics aren’t just alarming; they reveal a devastating truth about why many domestic abuse victims remain in dangerous situations.
For countless survivors, the decision to leave an abusive home is complicated by concern for their beloved pets. A 2019 survey by Dogs Trust discovered that 97% of domestic abuse professionals believe that threats to pets are commonly used as a coercion tactic, while 89% were aware of cases where pets had been abused. Even more distressing, 51% knew of situations where an abuser had killed a pet. The psychological toll on victims is significant, as many survivors report that their pets provide crucial emotional support during difficult times.
This is precisely why Ruby’s Law is so important. Current animal welfare legislation protecting pets fails to address their role in domestic abuse situations. The proposed amendments aim to explicitly include pets in non-molestation and occupation orders, thereby providing legal protection for pets in domestic abuse situations. By closing these legal loopholes that currently leave pets unprotected, Ruby’s Law recognises them as integral family members deserving protection. Consequently, this could lead to increased reporting and conviction rates for domestic abuse-related offences, creating a safer environment for both human and animal victims.
The hidden link between domestic abuse and pet harm
“A 2019 survey by Dogs Trust found that 97 per cent of domestic abuse professionals believe that threats to pets are commonly used as a coercion tactic.” — Law360, Legal news and analysis platform
The bond between humans and their companion animals often becomes a vulnerability that abusers exploit. Behind closed doors, pets frequently become pawns in the dangerous game of domestic abuse, creating silent barriers to escape and recovery.
How abusers use pets to control victims
Perpetrators deliberately target the emotional connection between victims and their pets. According to research, abusers use companion animals as powerful tools of coercive control. Furthermore, nearly 97% of domestic abuse professionals report that pets are frequently used as a means of controlling and coercing someone experiencing domestic abuse.
These tactics take various forms:
- Threatening to harm, kill or “get rid of” pets if the victim attempts to leave
- Preventing access to veterinary care or withholding money for pet food
- Physically abusing pets in front of victims to demonstrate power
- Using pets to monitor or track a person’s movements
In one disturbing study, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abusers had threatened, injured, or killed family pets. The message is clear: abusers understand the power of this emotional leverage.
Why do victims delay leaving abusive homes?
The fear for a pet’s safety creates an agonising dilemma for those seeking escape. Studies show that between 48% and 71% of survivors will delay leaving an abusive relationship if they cannot take their pets with them. Indeed, research by Barrett found that 56% of women postponed leaving their abusive partners specifically to protect their pets.
The shelter situation compounds this problem. Notably, only 15% of domestic violence shelters in the United States allow pets, whilst, in Wales, a survey of 31 women’s refugees found that none would take pets alongside their owners fleeing abuse. This forces victims to choose between their safety and their pet’s welfare.
Emotional trauma caused by pet abuse
Witnessing violence towards a beloved pet creates profound psychological wounds. The emotional attachment between survivors and their pets is often powerful due to shared experiences of abuse. Unfortunately, this means that deliberate acts of cruelty towards pets become exceptionally traumatic for victims.
Children are especially vulnerable to this trauma. Research indicates that witnessing animal cruelty can cause anxiety and depression symptoms in children highly attached to their pets. Alarmingly, young people exposed to animal abuse may develop an increased risk of perpetrating violent acts later in life.
For many survivors, their pets represent a crucial source of comfort and unconditional love amidst chaos. As one survivor explained: “I owe it to them to keep them safe because they kept me alive”.
What Ruby’s Law aims to change
Ruby’s Law proposes crucial amendments to existing legislation that would help both human and animal victims of domestic abuse. Named after a pet dog whom her owner’s abusive partner killed, this campaign aims to close significant legal gaps.
Extending non-molestation orders to include pets
Currently, the Family Law Act 1996 allows courts to issue non-molestation orders that prevent an abuser from threatening or harming their victim. However, these orders don’t explicitly extend protection to pets. Ruby’s Law seeks to change this by amending Section 42 of the Act to explicitly include companion animals within the definition of “associated persons.” This would mean threatening or harming a pet would be treated as a breach of the order, potentially resulting in arrest.
Including pets in occupation orders
Occupation orders determine who can live in the family home during and after a relationship breakdown. At present, there’s no provision for pets within these orders. Ruby’s Law would amend Section 33 of the Family Law Act to include specific references to companion animals. This change would ensure that when a victim flees abuse, their pets can legally remain with them rather than with the abuser. Additionally, this would prevent pets from being used to force victims to return to dangerous situations.
Recognising pet abuse as coercive control
Perhaps most importantly, Ruby’s Law advocates for the explicit recognition of pet abuse as a form of coercive control. Though the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines coercive control, it doesn’t specifically mention harm to pets. By making this amendment, courts would have more precise guidance for identifying and punishing this particular form of abuse.
These legal changes represent a holistic approach to protecting human and animal victims. Currently, victims face an impossible choice: their safety or their pets. By providing comprehensive legal protection for both, Ruby’s Law could remove one of the most significant barriers preventing people from leaving abusive relationships. The campaign has garnered support from animal welfare organisations, domestic abuse charities, and veterinary associations, all recognising that protecting pets ultimately means protecting people.
Why legal reform is urgently needed
“As it currently stands, gaps in family law mean that abusers can cause harm to family pets, use pets to coerce and control their victims, and prevent victims from leaving abusive environments.” — Ruby’s Law Campaign, Advocacy organisation for pet protection in domestic abuse cases.
Current legal frameworks in England and Wales fall drastically short of **protecting pets** in domestic abuse situations. Despite mounting evidence showing the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, existing legislation contains critical gaps that leave both pets and their owners vulnerable.
Gaps in the Family Law Act 1996
The Family Law Act 1996 fundamentally treats pets as personal property, unlike furniture or other possessions. This outdated classification fails to acknowledge the emotional bonds between people and their animals. Courts currently lack jurisdiction to approach pets as requiring protection in their own right, instead focusing primarily on ownership claims. Occupation orders under the Act make no provision for deciding who retains care of pets when determining living arrangements, essentially leaving animals in legal limbo. Whereas Spain, Colombia, and Argentina have evolved their legal systems to recognise “multispecies families,” the UK framework remains woefully behind.
Limitations of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, whilst offering enhanced protections for human victims, missed a crucial opportunity to safeguard companion animals. As it stands, no legislation in England and Wales provides explicit protection for pets belonging to domestic abuse victims. This oversight is significant as 71% of domestic violence victims report their abusers threatened, injured, or killed family pets. The Act’s definition of economic abuse only recently recognised that controlling a person’s ability to care for a pet constitutes abuse, yet fails to provide comprehensive protection for the animals themselves.
Impact on prosecution and sentencing
Current sentencing guidelines further compound these problems. Since animal cruelty offences don’t count as serious violent crimes, offenders can be released after serving just 40-50% of their sentences. Practically speaking, this means someone committing the most serious animal cruelty might serve as little as 16.8 months despite Parliament intending a maximum 5-year sentence. Crucially, offences related to animals in a domestic violence context are not excluded from early release schemes. This undermines both deterrence and public protection, particularly concerning given that 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also abused their pets.
Ultimately, these legal shortcomings create a devastating cycle; without adequate protection for pets, victims remain trapped in dangerous homes.
How you can support Ruby’s Law
Taking direct action today can help turn Ruby’s Law from a proposal into reality. Your support could make a difference for countless families caught in the devastating cycle of abuse. Here’s how to get involved:
Sign the petition and share the campaign
The Ruby’s Law petition needs your signature to demonstrate public support for these vital legal changes. Visit change.org and search for “Ruby’s Law” to add your name to the growing list of supporters. After signing, share the petition across your social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Primarily, this helps raise awareness and creates momentum that politicians cannot ignore. Each share potentially reaches hundreds more potential supporters, creating a ripple effect that strengthens the campaign.
Write to your MP using the template.
MPs respond to constituent concerns, particularly when multiple voters highlight the same issue. Firstly, visit rubyslaw.co.uk to download the pre-written template letter that clearly outlines the proposed amendments to existing legislation. Secondly, find your MP’s contact details through the Parliament website by entering your postcode. If possible, personalise the template with your own experiences or motivations, making your communication more compelling. Moreover, consider requesting a meeting with your MP to discuss the issue in person, as face-to-face conversations often have a greater impact.
Support funding for pet-safe refuges
Currently, most domestic abuse refuges cannot accommodate pets, forcing victims to choose between safety and abandoning their animals. You can help change this by donating to organisations working to create pet-friendly refuge spaces. The Dogs Trust Freedom Project and Cats Protection both offer fostering services for pets belonging to those fleeing domestic abuse. Alternatively, contact your local refuge to ask about donating pet supplies or volunteering your time. For this reason, supporting these initiatives directly addresses one of the biggest barriers preventing victims from escaping abuse: concern for their beloved pets.
Conclusion
The Path Forward: Protecting Both People and Pets
Throughout this article, we’ve seen how domestic abuse extends beyond human victims to affect beloved family pets. The evidence certainly paints a disturbing picture: 90% of households experiencing domestic abuse report animal abuse, while up to 71% of survivors delay leaving dangerous situations due to concerns for their pets’ safety. Undoubtedly, this creates an impossible choice that no victim should ever face.
Ruby’s Law represents a crucial step forward in addressing this devastating reality. After all, current legislation treats pets merely as property, failing to recognise their emotional significance and their role in coercive control tactics. The proposed amendments would, therefore, close critical gaps by explicitly including pets in non-molestation and occupation orders, thus acknowledging them as vulnerable family members deserving of protection.
The urgency for this legal reform cannot be overstated. First and foremost, these changes would remove a significant barrier preventing victims from escaping abuse. Additionally, they would recognise the documented link between animal cruelty and human violence, potentially increasing reporting and conviction rates for domestic abuse offences.
Your support matters tremendously in this fight. Whether you sign the petition, write to your MP using the template from rubyslaw.co.uk, or donate to organisations creating pet-friendly refuge spaces, each action brings us closer to comprehensive protection for all human and animal victims.
Ruby’s Law stands as a testament to our evolving understanding of domestic abuse and the complex barriers survivors face. Consequently, supporting this campaign acknowledges a fundamental truth: protecting pets ultimately means protecting people too. The time to act is now. Together, we can create a safer future where concern for beloved animals never traps anyone in a dangerous home again.
You can also find out more about Ruby’s Law and their ongoing work here:
Take action:
💖 Donate to support the campaign: https://donate.stripe.com/bIY15L7rqfwQ6dOfYZ
✍ Sign the petition: Search Ruby’s Law 2025 on Change.org
📩 Write to your MP: We’ve made it easy with a draft letter available here: https://rubyslaw.co.uk/take-action
Follow and tag us on social media:
🎥 TikTok: @rubys_law
📸 Instagram: @rubyslaw2025
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