On July 1, 2020, domestic violence survivors in Florida received expanded legal protections that include their pets. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bipartisan Senate Bill 1082 into law in June, 2020 allowing courts to include their pets in restraining orders against abusers.1 Perpetrators of coercive control may target pets as a means of inducing fear and submission in the victim, putting their lives at risk….
Animal Safety in Domestic Violence
Animal safety in domestic violence has historically been overlooked. Nevertheless, it is a key concern for victim-survivors.
Pets are often silent victims in entrapment-based relationships. According to the ASPCA, animal safety is a major factor in why 1 in 4 coercive control survivors remain in abusive relationships.
One study found that women in domestic violence shelters are nearly 11 times more likely to report that their abuser had threatened, harmed, or killed their pet compared to women who had not experienced coercive control.