Pets and Domestic Violence
Animal cruelty is a crime
- Do you have a pet that you love or take care of?
- Does the pet get mistreated or hurt by your partner?
- Are you fearful for the safety of pets at your house?
Does your pet experience being…
- Teased, Picked on or Scared
- Hit, kicked, punched or thrown
- Forced to go without food or water
- Hit with sticks, hoses or other objects
- Swang, picked up or thrown by his tail
- Choked, strangled or suffocated
- Hung or held in the air by a lead
- Shot
- Stabbed or jabbed
- Sexually abused
- Or has a pet been killed by your partner
Does your pet express odd behaviours? Does your pet show fear and distress? Is your pet denied medical attention?
Research tells us
- Pets are a common feature in Australian households
- The presence of pets makes them potential targets of abuse
- Pets are often abused to intimidate or control a woman and/or children in a domestic violence relationship
- Women delay leaving a domestic violence relationship because they are fearful of what might happen to the pet
- Children who are exposed to pet abuse may experience fear, anxiety, depression and anger
If this matter concerns you please call the RSPCA
| Headquarters: 9am- 5pm week days only | 08 8231 6931 |
| After hours: | 08 8231 2120 |
| Animal shelter: 10am- 5pm weekdays only | |
| 10am- 2pm weekends and public holidays | |
| Dogs and general inquiries: | 08 8382 0888 |
| Cats: | 08 8382 9962 |
| Community Liaison Officer on | 08 8212 6871 |
| All reports are confidential and will be passed on to an RSPCA Inspector to investigate. |