This afternoon I met with representatives from Cats Protection and the Dogs Trust to discuss animal abuse and domestic abuse during lockdown.
This followed on from meetings I have had recently with SLAIN (the South London Animal Investigation Network) and others to discuss the horrific spate of cat killings across south London, which I had also raised in the debate in the Commons on the current Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill which is progressing through Parliament, which Cats Protection and the Dogs Trust support.
I was grateful to hear Cats Protection's views on the cat killings, and the work they are doing to ensure their networks are encouraging people to be vigilant at all times, and for them to put up CCTV and work with neighbourhood watch schemes in areas where there are specific concerns. Cats Protection also has concerns, which I share, around antifreeze poisoning and shooting of animals with air rifles, although, as a rehoming charity primarily, they are limited in the resources they have to take action. These matters are an investigative matter for the police, and I understand the RSPCA works well to bring private prosecutions in such instances, and I will be looking to meet with the RSPCA as soon as possible to discuss this further.
We also spoke about preventative measures that both Cats Protection and the Dogs Trust support to stop animal abuse from happening in the first place, particularly where domestic abuse is present in the home - which very sadly has increased during lockdown this year.
For Cats Protection, this is their Paws Protect initiative, a pet fostering service for families fleeing domestic abuse.
Domestic violence and pets can make for an unsafe situation, which is why Cats Protection offer their Paws Protect cat fostering service. Through a network of cat fosterers, the service provides a retreat for pets of those going into a refuge until the owner has a safe place to live and they can be reunited. All information between the cat owner and foster carer is kept confidential. Their fosterers do not know the identity or whereabouts of the cat owner and vice versa, ensuring complete anonymity. While it is not possible for the owner to visit their cat while it is being fostered, the Paws Protect team visit the fosterer on a regular basis and provide monthly updates to the owner to give them peace of mind. Paws Protect covers all the costs of fostering for domestic violence – including cat food, feeding bowls, beds, vaccinations etc so owners know their pet is receiving the best care. They are only able to do this thanks to generous support from the public, and you can donate to Paws Protect here.
For the Dogs Trust, their similar initiative is the Freedom Project, a dog fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse and going into refuge.
The service has been running for 16 years and the Freedom Project has helped over 1,500 people to flee domestic abuse. It now runs in Greater London & the Home Counties, East Anglia, Yorkshire, the North East, the North West, and Scotland. Many refuges are not in a position to accept pets so in many cases people experiencing domestic abuse are unable to leave their home until they know there is somewhere safe for their dog. Dogs Trust offers a solution by providing free and confidential foster care, enabling the owner to access a refuge without the fear of what may happen to their dog if left behind.
Research from the Dogs Trust has shown:
- Almost nine in 10 professionals working in the domestic abuse sector have seen cases where a pet has also been abused;
- Almost half (49 per cent) of professionals working in the sector are aware of domestic abuse cases here the pet has been killed;
- In addition to the physical abuse that pets may suffer, 97 per cent of professionals said they are also often used as a means of controlling someone experiencing domestic abuse;
- More than nine in 10 professionals (95 per cent) also said that some survivors will not leave their home without knowing their pet would be safe.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need support and advice the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, 24 hour service run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge for people experiencing domestic abuse and anyone calling on their behalf. The helpline can give support and information over the phone and is staffed 24 hours a day by fully trained female support workers and volunteers.
Call 0808 2000 247 or visit https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Alternatively, you can also contact:
- Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327
- Galop National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428
I was pleased to be joined on the call by Lola (one of my golden retrievers), and my thanks to Stefan and Jacqui from Cats Protection and to Hannah from the Dogs Trust for taking the time to speak with me about these important issues.