Family service providers have called for a specific service to prevent pets being used as bargaining chips to prolong abusive relationships.

CQU researchers Dr Nik Taylor and Dr Tania Signal said a recent study assessed family service provider perspectives on the link between domestic violence, child abuse and harm to companion animals.

They said the study found:.

 Over 60% of the respondents reported that the welfare of companion animals were of considerable, or major, concern to their clients.

 90% of the respondents rated animals as important or extremely important, to the individuals accessing their services.

 With the exception of one respondent, the service providers reported that their clients do significantly delay leaving an abusive relationship due to threats to, or concerns for the welfare of, their companion animal(s). In general, a higher overall concern for a companion animal was related to an increased likelihood of delaying leaving an abusive situation.

 Most indicated that they saw deliberate animal harm as another way in which abusers had kept control of the abused, and also highlighted the generational effects of such deliberate violence (to both humans and animals).

 An overwhelming majority of respondents (96%) indicated that there was a need for a specific service to address this issue. Respondents indicated that there was a need for this on both human-welfare and animal-welfare levels.

Implications of the link between the treatment of animals and the treatment of humans will be discussed at an upcoming conference, Circles of Compassion, in Queensland in December. Contact Dr Nik Taylor, n.taylor@cqu.edu.au (07 4930 9433) for further details.

Photo: Dr Taylor (left) and Dr Signal ... ready for a conference called Circles of Compassion.