RSPCA Queensland is reporting a rise in complex veterinary cases involving animals from domestic and family violence situations, where coercive control has prevented victim-survivors from accessing timely care for their pets.

“This year we’ve seen a spike in the number of animals entering our program requiring extensive veterinary care,” says Courtney Cameron, Head of Community and Prevention, RSPCA Queensland.

RSPCA Queensland operates Pets in Crisis supported by The Petbarn Foundation, a program designed to assist victim-survivors of domestic and family violence by offering free boarding and veterinary support to their animals.

“The program gives victim-survivors of domestic and family violence peace of mind knowing their animals are safe while they seek alternative accommodation,” says Ms. Cameron.

The rising cost of care

RSPCA Queensland has faced a significant rise in program costs due to an increasing number of animals requiring complex and prolonged veterinary care. As a result, nearly half of the Pets in Crisis program’s total operating expenses now go toward meeting these medical needs - an increase of $10,000 compared to last year.

Additional funding is urgently needed to ensure that vulnerable animals continue to receive the treatment and support they desperately require.

How pets are impacted by coercive control

When a perpetrator of coercive control

  • Restricts and monitors access to finance
  • Restricts access to transport
  • Threats or warns about harm to extended family members
  • Threats (explicit threats to harm the victim-survivor or children, warns victims about the perpetrator’s capacity to harm)

This prevents a victim-survivor gaining access to medical care or food for their pet.

New Coercive Control Legislation

From 26 May 2025, coercive control will be a criminal offence in Queensland.

The offence criminalises the conduct of an adult where:

  • the person intends the course of conduct to coerce or control the other person; and
  • the course of conduct would, in all the circumstances, be reasonably likely to cause the other person harm (any detrimental effect on the person’s physical, emotional, financial, psychological or mental wellbeing, whether temporary or permanent).

RSPCA Queensland welcomes this new legislation and hopes it will provide the legal support for victims to safely come forward, while also recognising the insidious, long-term harm that coercive control causes to both people and the animals caught in abusive environments.

Queensland Police Services’ Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command Assistant Commissioner, Kath Innes, said domestic and family violence (DFV) doesn’t just affect people – it affects the whole household, including pets.

“We’ve seen heartbreaking cases where perpetrators often use threats of harm to pets as a form of manipulation and emotional abuse,” she said.

“The Queensland Police Service is committed to working alongside support services like RSPCA Queensland and DVConnect, as we know victim-survivors of DFV often delay leaving a violent relationship because they fear for their pet’s safety.

“Programs like this play an important role in breaking the cycle of violence and control and offer animals secure and compassionate care while their owners seek safety and support.”

To access RSPCA Queensland’s Pets in Crisis program, contact DVConnect. Support workers can directly contact RSPCA by emailing [email protected].

A Heart for Hope

May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, and The Petbarn Foundation is running A Heart for Hope, an in-store fundraiser across the country raising funds for programs like RSPCA Queensland’s Pets in Crisis.

“Domestic violence doesn’t just affect people - it affects their pets too. Fifty per cent of people fleeing abusive situations delay leaving because they can’t take their pets with them,” says Janelle Miller, National Manager, Petbarn Foundation.

“Over the last 12 months, the Petbarn Foundation has helped fund more than 7,300 nights of emergency accommodation and care for pets affected by domestic violence in partnership with the RSPCA and other charity partners.”

“This support includes safe temporary housing, food, medical care and transport. By supporting charities that specialise in helping survivors of domestic violence ensure their pets are safe, too. It’s why we are raising funds which will provide services that help to keep people and pets together.”

Members of the public can visit their local Petbarn store to donate to the programs supporting pets and their families escaping domestic violence.