Fear, Guilt, and Grief: Harm to Pets and the Emotional Abuse of Women

Abstract

Batterers often threaten or harm pets in order to intimidate and control their female partners. Yet, there is little research on harm to pets as an aspect of emotional abuse. To address this gap, this article reviews what is known about the emotional impact of pet abuse on battered women. The research findings support Adams' theory that pet abuse inflicts psychological trauma on women, causes suffering and sometimes death to animals, and injures the relationship between women and their pets. To understand the impact of pet abuse in detail, future research should assess the attachment between battered women and their pets and follow the trajectory and mental health consequences of the women's relationships with their pets.