How we're helping to protect animals and people
When violence against an animal is inflicted, society has a responsibility to consider what other dangers the perpetrator may pose.
Our Protect Animals. Protect People campaign highlights the well-evidenced link between animal abuse and human abuse.
We’re working to ensure that those responsible for public protection – like police officers, politicians, and professionals – recognise this connection and take crimes against animals seriously as part of preventing harm to people.
We are already seeing real progress – but we know there’s more to do.
We are asking decision-makers to A.S.K.:
- Add animal abuse awareness to domestic abuse prevention work in the criminal justice system.
- Support the animal victims of domestic abuse.
- Know the signs of animal abuse within coercive control.
Together, we can protect animals – and protect people.
Explore this section
Campaign updates:
In 2022 we made a submission to the UK consultation for sentencing of animal abuse offences.
In 2023, the 44 websites run by police forces across England and Wales didn’t offer any advice to survivors of domestic abuse where pets had been harmed or threatened.
We wanted to ensure that all police officers were aware of how pets can be threatened, hurt or killed within domestic and child abuse, so we are collaborating with police forces to provide training and help update their internal safeguarding strategies.
We wanted to make sure we made everyone aware of the harm that can be done to survivors of abuse when their pet is targeted.
We want to ensure that our campaign message is heard globally. In 2022, we presented to a subcommittee of the European Parliament about animals within domestic abuse.
We want to advance animal welfare in as many countries as possible and deliver awareness training as widely as possible on the need to take crimes against animals seriously.
We want to reach MPs to explain why animal welfare matters.
We sent Freedom of Information requests to every police force in England and Wales, and over 650 supporters emailed their MP calling for mandatory training on the role of pets within domestic abuse.
In Parliament
On 21 October 2025, Naturewatch Foundation, together with Ruby’s Law and the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG), hosted an inspiring event in Parliament: “Protecting Pets in Domestic Abuse.” Chaired by Irene Campbell MP and Dr Marc Abraham OBE, the evening brought together legal experts, survivors, campaigners, and policymakers to talk about the often-overlooked impact of domestic abuse on our beloved pets and explore practical ways to protect them.
Speakers shared real-life experiences from both working within family law and their own experiences as survivors. APDAWG 2025 showed us the power of working together to #BreakTheLink between human and animal abuse and reminded everyone of the simple truth: when we protect animals, we protect people.
Law enforcement and ‘The Link’
Much of our effort so far has been reaching police officers to explain to them how animals are often harmed as part of coercive control.
Our new strategy: Act to Protect
In January 2026, we published Act to Protect, a new strategy that builds on this progress and sets out how protecting animals must be embedded at every stage of safeguarding people from domestic abuse.
Act to Protect puts four clear principles – Protect, Prepare, Prevent and Pursue – into action, by drawing on national Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) frameworks.
Our strategy shows how recognising animal abuse can trigger earlier intervention, strengthen responses to coercive control, and ensure perpetrators are held to account. It provides a practical, evidence-based roadmap for policymakers, police and frontline professionals, so animals are no longer overlooked when people are at risk.
Read more about Act to Protect in our blog.
Our progress: from zero to 100%!
When we started the Protect Animals. Protect People campaign in 2023, none of the 44 websites of police forces in England and Wales highlighted the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse. In fact, most simply directed human victims towards animal charities.
As a direct result of our campaigning, 100% of police websites in England and Wales now offer advice to survivors of domestic abuse where pets are targeted as part of coercive control. This means that if you visit any police website in England and Wales and type ‘animal cruelty and domestic abuse’ into their search engine you will NOW be directed to appropriate helplines.
This is an incredible result.
Our latest report: One Response – a postcode lottery
To build on this progress, we launched ‘One Response’ – a new report revealing the postcode lottery survivors face when seeking help. While most police forces provide domestic abuse training, only 60% include any mention of pets, despite widespread evidence of their use in coercive control. Our report calls for a consistent, national response that recognises the serious safeguarding risk posed when animal abuse is overlooked.
You can read our latest blog to find out more about this work.
Training gains in the UK
We gave many presentations to police officers over our first year of this campaign , including at the Parks Police Headquarters in Hyde Park, London and in Scotland Yard – perhaps the most iconic police building in the world.
As a result, internal police advice has been adapted and training for officers has been updated. This is a leap forward, not just for animals caught up in the violence, but for people too.
Hogarth Award presentation
William Hogarth created many engravings in the 18th Century about life in London. The Four Stages of Cruelty detail the transition from animal cruelty to murder. Hogarth also campaigned against animal fighting and ear cropping, issues which still sadly happen today over 250 years later.
Our campaign launched at Hogarth’s House in London, paying tribute to William Hogarth’s 1751 engravings.
We also wanted to recognise that we can only help the animal victims of domestic abuse if we work together. So, it was a great pleasure to recognise the Metropolitan Police Domestic Abuse Team as recipients for our ‘Hogarths’ award, given for helping us in #BreakingTheLink.
Changing the law
We have made written submissions regarding animal cruelty to the Online Safety Act, which gained Royal Assent on 26th October 2023. We also made submissions to the Sentencing Council, whose role it is to advise the court system. Their report in July 2023, and updated guidelines, recognise the impact of animal abuse committed in front of children.
Ruby’s Law
As part of our ongoing efforts to protect animals and people, we strongly support Ruby’s Law. This campaign, centred around areas where civil and criminal legislation overlap, aims to provide better legal protection for animals who are victims of abuse, especially when their suffering is tied to coercive control in domestic abuse situations. By backing Ruby’s Law, we are pushing for stronger legal measures to prevent harm to pets and acknowledge their role in the safety and wellbeing of domestic abuse survivors. You can read more about our work with Ruby’s Law here .
In the news
Our campaign highlighting the link between animal abuse and coercive control has captured the attention of media outlets across the world. From expert training insights and parliamentary briefings to powerful survivor stories, our work is helping to raise public awareness of this often-overlooked aspect of domestic abuse.
We are proud that our work continues to inspire vital conversations and drive legislative change, both in the UK and internationally.
News from Italy
News from Spain
Fifty reasons why breaking the link matters
This study looked at fifty recent real-life cases with strong connections between those who harm animals and those who harm people. The fifty cases represent a pattern of criminal behaviour and violence that should, and could, be prevented.
Our ground-breaking nine point plan
Naturewatch Foundation aims to lead the way with advancing animal welfare.
We have brought together 60 years of policing experience on both sides of the Atlantic to create a NINE POINT PLAN to give police officers and public protection officials around the world a guide to follow.
Our mission is to help make communities safer for animals AND people.
This is a groundbreaking, but generic, guide so each country can consider how these points may be adapted for their country and it is available here.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.