‌Baroness Hayman said the Government is working to break the link between domestic abuse and violence or threats against animals. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has commissioned research into the link between animal abuse. And work is being carried out to train vets to spot signs of animal abuse that could be linked to domestic violence and coersion. In October a grim study by the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) found thousands of cases where abusers used pets to control their victims. Campaigners warn that under current law, the Domestic Abuse Act does not explicitly consider pet abuse as a form of coercive control.

Source: Daily Mirror March 06, 2026 15:34 UTC