New Laws Help Abuse Survivors Keep Their Beloved Pets Safe

Olivia knew her life was in danger, but she couldn't leave. Her dog Rusty was still at home, and abandoning him meant staying with an abusive partner.

For weeks, the woman in her mid-50s moved between hotels in regional New South Wales, sneaking back to her house at 2 a.m. to feed Rusty. She knew the risk was growing with each visit.

"It wasn't a risk where he might just turn up and yell at me, there was a risk he could turn up and do something quite terrible," she said.

Two days before Christmas, Olivia discovered the RSPCA NSW Domestic and Family Violence Program. The service cares for pets while their owners seek safety from abuse.

"I cried the whole way to the RSPCA and the whole way home, just out of relief," Olivia said. By Christmas Eve, she was in a safe house.

Olivia's story isn't unique. More than half of women using RSPCA domestic violence programs delayed leaving their abusers out of concern for their pets, most for over six months.

Last year in Queensland alone, Pets in Crisis supported 112 people and 170 animals. Western Australia recorded a 112 percent increase in demand for similar programs.

"Most emergency boarding for humans don't allow pets, so that's a pretty big barrier to leaving a domestic violence situation," said RSPCA Queensland's Courtney Cameron.

The Ripple Effect

New federal laws passed 12 months ago are changing the game. Courts now consider who actually cares for a pet when determining ownership, not just who paid for it.

The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 looks at who walks the dog, feeds it, takes it to the vet, and pays medical expenses. Family violence and cruelty towards animals also factor into decisions.

The changes already helped one Queensland woman whose abusive partner accused her of stealing "his" dog when she fled. The RSPCA worked with police to prove she was the real owner.

"Historically, the dog would have likely gone back to the abuser," Cameron said.

Professor Molly Dragiewicz from Griffith University says the legal changes help raise public awareness about how abuse extends beyond direct victims to family members, friends, and pets.

After two months in foster care, Rusty and Olivia reunited in their new home on a spacious block. "I lost furniture, photos and everything else, but I still had him," she said.