20.03.25
Domestic abuse doesn’t just harm people – it also affects the animals they love. Abusers often use pets as a tool for control, threatening, harming, or even killing them to manipulate and intimidate their victims. Yet, despite the clear link between animal abuse and domestic violence, there is still no mandatory training for police officers to recognise and respond to these cases.
At Naturewatch Foundation, we are working to change this. But we need your help.
Your Story Can Make a Difference
We are looking for survivors who are willing to share their experiences of how an abuser used an animal to control or harm them. If your pet – or the pet of someone you know – was threatened or hurt as part of coercive control, we want to hear from you.
By sharing your story, you can help us:
- Raise awareness of this issue and break the silence surrounding it.
- Strengthen our campaign for mandatory police training on identifying and responding to coercive control cases.
We know how difficult it can be to talk about these experiences. Any information you share will be treated with the utmost care and confidentiality. We will only use your story with your full consent.
If you would like to speak with us in confidence, please email hope@naturewatch.org. Your voice can help create real change – for both people and animals.
Let’s break the link, together.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing domestic abuse, please reach out for support. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24/7 at 0808 2000 247.
