Barrett, B. J., Gray, A., Fitzgerald, A., Fritz, P., Stevenson, R., Baldwin, C., & Forsyth, N. (2026). Prevalence and types of pet-inclusive shelter services for unhoused survivors of intimate partner violence. Housing Studies, 41(3), 598–619. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2025.2479059
Scientific studies in various countries show that a substantial percentage of women who are victims of gender-based violence are harmed by their abusive partners through the mistreatment of their pets. These acts, along with threats to harm or kill their animals, are committed to intimidate, cause suffering, silence, and coerce them.
This study analyzes the nature and extent of the use of pet shelter services by unhoused women survivors of intimate partner violence, following the application of the section 12502 “Protecting Animals With Shelter”, of the Agriculture Improvement Act, a Unite States public law that came into force in December 2018.
