RSPCA supports the private members Bill from David O’Byrne MP with reform long overdue
Recent evidence highlights a disturbing trend: pets are increasingly used as tools of coercive control in domestic abuse situations.
Perpetrators manipulate, intimidate, and retaliate against victims by exploiting their emotional bonds with animals, both during the relationship and after separation. This cruel tactic often delays victims from escaping violent environments due to fears for their pets’ safety.
Since 2021, RSPCA Tasmania’s Safe Beds program has provided invaluable insights into this issue. We’ve seen firsthand how animals are held hostage by abusers in Tasmania, with victim/survivors having limited safe opportunities to retrieve their pets. Empowering Tasmanian Police to ensure the safe removal of animals during an escape from abuse is a significant step forward.
Our experience shows that many victims are unable to take their pets when fleeing abusive situations due to the lack of animal-friendly refuges or the risk of alerting their abuser. Additionally, proving ownership of pets can be problematic in these situations, as perpetrators often register the animals in their names, despite the victim being the primary caregiver with an emotional bond with their animal.
There is a critical need for funding to upgrade refuges to accommodate pets, enabling victims to leave dangerous situations without abandoning their animals. Until then, RSPCA Tasmania remains committed to providing boarding opportunities for the pets of victim/survivors and supporting initiatives that integrate services for both people and their pets.
We call on all members of parliament to prioritise this issue and support legislative changes to protect both people and animals in domestic violence scenarios. Tasmania should lead the way in ensuring comprehensive protection for all victims of domestic violence.
MEDIA CONTACT
Andrea Dawkins, CEO – RSPCA Tasmania
Mobile: 0438 346 445
Email: adawkins@rspcatas.org.au
