Trigger Warning: This blog discusses pet abuse and may be upsetting. Please pause or step away if needed.

Child to Parent Abuse (CPA) can take many forms. This month, we want to focus on a form that tends to be less spoken about: pet abuse.

Pet abuse within CPA happens when a child of any age uses threats or direct abusive behaviours towards a family pet to intimidate, control or emotionally impact a parent, carer, or guardian. Pets are more than companions, they are members of the family. Targeting them can create fear and anxiety for the whole household.

Pet abuse in CPA can appear differently in every family. Some examples shared by parents include:

• Threatening to give away or abandon a family pet
  
  
• Intentionally frightening or distressing the pet to upset a parent
  
  
• Hitting or kicking a pet
  
  
• Preventing a parent from caring for their pet, including stopping feeding or grooming
  
  
• Not allowing a pet to be seen by a vet
  
  
• Sexual abuse or sexual touching of a pet
  
  
• Killing a pet as a way to punish or intimidate
  
  

Studies and surveys reveal the seriousness of this behaviour and the impact it has on pets themselves: 36% of parents reported their child had harmed a pet, and 9% said their child had killed one - from our most recent survey in 2025. You can visit our most recent survey by clicking here.

The Impact on Parents and Families

For parents and carers who are seeing abuse directed to a beloved pet can be as traumatic as if the behaviours were towards themselves. It often does and can:

• Heighten fear and anxiety within the household
  
  
• Undermine a parent’s sense of safety and control
  
  
• Increase feelings of guilt, helplessness, and isolation
  
  
• Affect other children and family members
  
  
• Leave long-lasting emotional scars for both pets and the family.

"I’m constantly on edge, afraid to leave my son alone with our dog in case something happens. I feel on edge all the time"

Pet abuse is often part of a broader pattern of coercive or controlling behaviours in Domestic Abuse itself. 

Recognising animal abuse as a form of abuse is essential for both protecting parents and for ensuring pets are safe.

As professionals, it’s important to consider pets when working with families who may be experiencing abusive behaviours from a child or any form of domestic abuse. Pets are often deeply loved family members, and their safety can have a direct impact on the emotional wellbeing of parents, carers, and other household members such as siblings.

By standing alongside parents and families, providing belief and creating safe spaces for disclosure, professionals can help protect both people and pets. Early recognition, non-judgemental support, and safeguarding practices that include pets can make a real difference in changing lives.

At PEGS, we continue to advocate for understanding, safety, and non-judgemental support for all forms of abuse, including pet abuse.

If you are experiencing pet abuse in your household, or you know someone who is, please keep in mind the organisations below.

Loop

Website: https://loopsafe.wixsite.com/loop-safeguarding

Loop Safeguarding exists because there is a real and important link between interpersonal abuse (like CPA and other forms of abuse) and the abuse of animals. They work with professionals across sectors from social care and law enforcement to health and community support to deepen understanding of this connection, support better safeguarding practices, and ensure animals aren’t overlooked in assessments and responses.

RSPCA – Pets and Domestic Abuse Support

Website: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/abuse
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) provides guidance on recognising animal cruelty and abuse, including when pets are impacted by domestic or family abuse. Their page links to services that offer confidential pet fostering, helping people flee abusive situations without having to leave beloved animals behind. They also offer advice on local support services.

The Links Group – Animal-inclusive Safeguarding & Pet Fostering

Website: https://www.thelinksgroup.org.uk
The Links Group raises awareness of the link between abuse of people and animals. They work with partner organisations on policy, training and advocacy, and support pet fostering initiatives that help people escaping abuse keep their pets safe. This includes best practice guidance and collaborative safeguarding work across sectors.

Dogs Trust Freedom Project

Website: https://dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk
Part of Dogs Trust, the Freedom Project offers free, confidential fostering for dogs whose owners are fleeing domestic abuse, including CPA‑related harm to pets. Dogs are placed with volunteer foster carers until the owner can be safely reunited with them. This helps reduce fear and emotional barriers to seeking safety.

Cats Protection Lifeline

Website: https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/cp-lifeline
Cats Protection’s Lifeline service offers confidential cat fostering across regions, supporting owners escaping abusive households. This enables people to get help for themselves without having to surrender their pets permanently, reducing one of the barriers survivors face when seeking safety.

Endeavour – Pet Fostering Service

Website: https://endeavourproject.org.uk/
Endeavour provides in‑house pet fostering support in parts of England for people fleeing domestic abuse or unable to care for their animals due to crisis circumstances. They help keep pets safe and cared for while owners focus on their own safety and stability.