This two-year study is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in response to the Government’s pledge, made in 2024, to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.
While there is research that highlights that animal abuse is a 'red flag' indicator for domestic abuse, and is a strategy of coercive control used by perpetrators, there is currently limited research to evidence whether the ‘use/abuse of animals’ is a significant concern for domestic homicide/suicide specifically. This study addresses that gap and will make the recommendations needed to reduce harm to both people and animals.
Defra said: “This Government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls over the next 10 years. Existing studies have established a strong link between pet abuse and domestic abuse more generally but there is limited research focused specifically on the link with domestic abuse related deaths. This Defra-funded research project will make a valuable contribution to addressing these evidence gaps, informing policy and practice to reduce harm to both people and animals.”
This pioneering research will be hosted by the School for Policy Studies in the Centre for Gender and Violence Research. Dr Mary Wakeham, a former PhD student from the Centre, will be the Senior Research Associate. Mary’s research specialism is the link between domestic abuse and animal abuse, specifically animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control. Mary is also the Founder and CEO of Refuge4Pets, a specialist animal fostering service for victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
Dr Natasha Mulvihill, an Associate Professor in Criminology in the School for Policy Studies, will be the Principal Investigator on the programme. Natasha has research expertise across the field of gender-based violence and leading work focused on improving understanding, policy and practice.
Dr Mulvihill said: “The ambition here is to develop the evidence base necessary to create an effective, integrated approach to safeguarding all victim-survivors of domestic abuse (people and animals), as well as the better management of perpetrator behaviour relating to domestic abuse and animal cruelty.”