Women postpone going into safe houses until pets have homes

Olivia, a woman in her mid-50s, delayed seeking refuge from her abusive former partner because she could not find a safe place for her dog, Rusty. She feared that if she went to a shelter immediately, she would have to leave Rusty behind, a prospect she found unbearable. "I didn't want to tell police in case they moved me into a refuge straight away … I didn't want to leave Rusty behind," Olivia said, explaining her hesitation to leave her home even as threats escalated.

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I didn't want to tell police in case they moved me into a refuge straight away … I didn't want to leave Rusty behind.

She described the difficult situation of returning to her house only after dark to feed Rusty, knowing the risk of encountering her former partner was significant. "It wasn't a risk where he might just turn up and yell at me, there was a risk he could turn up and do something quite terrible," she recalled. Her situation highlights a critical barrier for many victim-survivors of domestic violence: the welfare of their beloved pets.

The RSPCA NSW Domestic and Family Violence Program provided a lifeline for Olivia. Finding this program, which offers animal care for those in crisis, brought her immense relief. "I cried the whole way to the RSPCA and the whole way home, just out of relief." By Christmas Eve, Olivia was in a safe house, a move made possible by securing a place for Rusty. "If I didn't have somewhere safe to put Rusty, I probably would've stayed," she admitted, revealing the depth of her concern for her pet.

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There was a feeling that I just had to stay and wait it out.

This issue is widespread, with RSPCA Queensland's Pets in Crisis program supporting 112 people and 170 animals last year. Courtney Cameron from RSPCA Queensland stated, "Most emergency boarding for humans don't allow pets, so that's a pretty big barrier to leaving a domestic violence situation." The program aims to remove this obstacle, ensuring victims do not have to choose between their safety and their animal companions. RSPCA Western Australia has also seen a dramatic increase in demand for its similar program.

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I would go back to my house at 2 o'clock in the morning to feed Rusty but it was getting to a point where I knew it was unsafe.

Recent legislative changes are beginning to address this problem. The federal Family Law Amendment Act 2024 now allows courts to consider factors like who walks, feeds, or pays for a pet's medical expenses, and also includes family violence and animal cruelty. Previously, courts only considered who paid for or microchipped the animal. These changes have already assisted cases, such as a Queensland woman accused of stealing her dog, by providing evidence of her ownership and role as the primary caregiver, thus helping to counter her abuser's attempts at control.

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It wasn't a risk where he might just turn up and yell at me, there was a risk he could turn up and do something quite terrible.