Considering Companion Animals

Abstract

A growing body of literature has shown the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty, resulting in a shift in the way family violence and those who are victims of abuse are considered. There are approximately 700 shelters across the nation protecting women and their children from domestic abuse, but not companion animals. National trends indicate that most domestic violence shelters do not accommodate companion animals on site. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to examine companion animal policies in California domestic violence shelters. Results indicated that shelter administrators are aware of the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty; however, they lack the resources to fully support clients with companion animals. Current best practices and recommendations highlight methods that can be used to develop broader community support for victims of domestic violence and their companion animals.