Protecting Fido, protecting the family : Developing domestic violence law to include companion animals
| DOI | 10.17159/2413-3108/2022/vn71a7928 |
| Published date | 01 November 2022 |
| Date | 01 November 2022 |
| Pages | 1-12 |
2 – 75
SA CRIME QUARTERLY NO. 71 • 2022
Protecting Fido,
protecting the family
Developing domestic violence law
to include companion animals
South African
This article argues that by developing domestic violence laws to include and protect individual
companion animals in the home, it might be possible to prevent violence against other victims
in the home. Protecting a companion animal from persistent violence by, for example, having
properly integrated reporting systems between government departments, could protect various
vulnerable members of the family. The article briefly sketches the status of intimate partner violence
in South Africa and explores the current implementation of the Domestic Violence Act. The status of
companion animal abuse in South Africa and other jurisdictions is briefly explored. The article then
shows that an intersection of violence exists in the home between women, children and companion
animal and that protecting specific victims of violence (such as companion animals) can potentially
act as a mechanism that can protect all victims from future or persisting violence.
CR I ME QUA RT E R LY
No. 71 | 2022
Sheena Swemmer1
sheena.swemmer@wits.ac.za
https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2022/vn71a7928
“It is neither new nor coincidental to accord lesser importance to violence done to marginalised
groups such as animals and women.”
N Taylor and H Fraser2
“Women residing at domestic violence shelters... were nearly 11 times more likely to report that
their partner had hurt or killed pets than a comparison group of women who said they had not
experienced intimate violence.” F Ascione et al.3
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