Pets are often used against domestic violence victims – but new Australian laws could change that

Jayla Sainty, from RSPCA's Safe Beds program that shelters pets for domestic violence victim-survivors, says pets ‘have the same rights as a piece of furniture’ under current legislation. Photograph: Matthew Newton/The Guardian

The question of who gets the dog after a breakup can be fraught. In the context of domestic violence, it can move beyond distressing to downright dangerous.

Animals are commonly weaponised by perpetrators as a tool of coercive control. They can also be a key factor for victim-survivors in deciding whether to stay in the home or leave without their beloved pet, as many emergency shelters and rental properties do not allow animals.