Really insightful event in Parliament recently with the Purple Paw Project, led by organisations such as the RSPCA and Refuge4Pets highlighting the connection between domestic abuse and animal welfare. It is not always an obvious link, but it is an important one.
It was a useful reminder that, for many people, pets are simply part of everyday life, not separate from it. That can make leaving a difficult or abusive situation more complicated than it might first appear. For some, the question isn’t just whether they can leave, but what happens to the animal they’re responsible for. That’s not a small detail and it can shape the decision entirely.
There is more to do to ensure support services reflect that reality and I will continue to support work in this area to ensure that services recognise this.
