Domestic violence, child abuse and companion animal harm : service provision

This paper addresses the link between domestic violence, child abuse and companion animal harm by firstly presenting the results of a study which investigated family service provider perspectives on this link. The results showed that there is a general awareness of this link amongst family service providers and, furthermore, that there is general support amongst this community for a service aimed at specifically addressing this issue. The paper then moves on to discuss the results of a pilot program, Pets in Crisis, which fosters the companion animals of women seeking refuge from domestic violence.