Enhanced Awareness: Domestic Abuse and Pets (1hr)

The aim of the session is to raise awareness of the correlation between domestic abuse and the abuse of pets who are also members of that former or current family dynamic. It forms part of a suite of additional enhanced sessions on the additional layers that sit in and around domestic abuse and interact with it in a dynamic way.

The session includes an interview with our Survivors Symposium Lead, Fiona Bowman, who talks about her personal experience as well as insight developed through our Survivors Symposium.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will:-

Understand why the signs of domestic abuse are incredibly challenging to recognise

Understand why sometimes we will spot additional behaviours occurring around the domestic abuse before the abuse itself

Understand why the abuse of Pets is closely correlated with Domestic Abuse

Understand the different ways in which Pets may be at risk of abuse or violence

Understand the effect on a child or victim of abuse who is witnessing the abuse of their pet

Spotting the Signs – What you might see, hear or notice?

Understand the complexity in legislation in this area

Feel better equipped to spot the signs of domestic abuse and the abuse of pets

Know where to reach out to if you are concerned about a pet living in home where domestic abuse may be occurring

This session was developed with funding from The Smallwood Trust