It’s not always a dog’s best life: Domestic violence affects pets

The phrase “witnessing abuse,” implying as it does that one may not have been abused personally, is a misnomer. One cannot witness abuse without being affected. When violence occurs in our families and in our community, we are all changed by the path that violence sets us on, from safety to fear, trust to uncertainty — we all become victims of abuse.

One population of denizens in our community who are too often overlooked when it comes to being affected by domestic violence is pets of victims. Their long-term health trajectory, just like a victim’s, can be negatively impacted by their experiences. The co-occurrence of animal abuse and domestic violence is also significant.