Pet Victimology and Coercive Control

Pet victims of Coercive Control are often overlooked in both academic literature and in policy and practice when addressing Violence Against Women and Girls. Dr Victoria Knight discussed this issue with Associate Professor Di Turgoose and Dr Ruth McKie of De Montfort University. The presentation focussed on the need to understand that given that fifty-percent  of households in the UK are multispecies, including those where Coercive Control in domestically violence and abusive relationships takes place. There is growing evidence that the human-animal bond for human and pet victims of coercive control, is one which should be protected to support both victims. Di Turgoose and Dr Ruth McKie drew attention to this expanding and important area of investigation in line with the sixteen days of activism for the elimination of violence against women by the UN, where ending Pet abuse and Domestic Violence and Abuse together collaboratively goes towards ending all violence against women.