Dogs can be ‘catalyst for change’ for domestic violence victims

Domestic violence shelters should offer pet-friendly accommodation for women who want to leave abusive partners and take companion animals with them, a University of Canterbury academic has said.

Nik Taylor, a sociologist with the university’s human services and social work programme, says that a dog or other pets can provide crucial emotional support for women recovering from domestic violence.

Taylor and Heather Fraser, a social scientist at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, have co-written a book that explores the role of companion animals in helping women to move on from abusive relationships.