Lucy’s Project: Understanding the link between animal welfare and domestic violence

Lucy’s Project is a national charity that aims to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence through collaboration, advocacy, research and education.

With two-thirds of Australian households having at least one animal, this means that in situations of domestic and family violence there is likely to be an animal present and, in many cases, the animal is also experiencing abuse.

The charity shares that people who abuse animals are 5 times as likely to abuse other humans and animal abuse is ranked in the top 3 risk factors for homicide in a domestic and family violence situation.

Abusers will often take advantage of the human animal connection by using threats, intimidation and violence against animals to coerce, manipulate and control family members.

• Up to 71% of domestic and family violence victim survivors report that their companion animal had been threatened, harmed or even killed.
• When victim survivors decide to leave an abusive situation with their animals, up to 93% are turned away from refuges. The search for support can be even more difficult for humans and their animals in rural areas.

Lucy’s Project believe it is critical for workers across sectors to recognise that the safety and wellbeing of people and animals is interconnected, and that animal abuse is a high-risk factor for intimate partner femicide.

In October, the organisation will be presenting a 2-day online conference with leading Australian and international researchers and practitioners speaking on:

• Emerging and better practice in supporting people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence.
• Different ways that human and animal services and law enforcement can support and protect people and animals.
• How the safety of people and animals is interconnected and why it's important to enable people and animals to heal and recover together.

Visit Lucy’s Project to view the list of speakers and topics, and purchase tickets: https://lucysproject.com/lucys-project-conference-2024/

AVA members can earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Nationwide and statewide helplines and support services for people and animals experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence: https://lucysproject.com/help-what-to-do/