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Women and their fur-babies : leaving family violence together : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology, at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
The use of animal abuse as a coercive control technique within intimate partner violence is
found in nearly half of all violent relationships. Concern for their animals’ well-being, fear
for their own safety and difficulty finding temporary animal accommodation leads to women
remaining in these relationships. Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge is the only women’s refuge
in New Zealand that makes formal provision for animals at their safe houses, enabling
women and animals to leave violence together. This research explores the relationship
women have with their animals within the context of intimate partner violence, positions
animals as victims of family violence themselves, and asks why the service Te Whare Tiaki
Wahine Refuge offers is important in enabling women and their animals to leave family
violence together. Three women who had animals and were residing at Te Whare Tiaki
Wahine Refuge, two Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge social workers and four Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staff volunteered to participate in conversational interviews
that were focused on women’s relationships with their animals and experiences of animal
abuse and intimate partner violence. The provision of accommodation for animals leaving
violence was investigated The interviews were voice-recorded, transcribed and analysed
using feminist standpoint epistemology and Riessman’s (1993) method of narrative inquiry.
The analysis represents the strength of women’s relationships with their animals and the
importance of them being able to leave their violent relationships together. Animals were
positioned as victims of family violence within this research, resulting from the animals’
experiences of physical abuse, purposeful neglect and emotional suffering. Women were
found to generally position their animals to be part of the family and an important source of
comfort, unconditional love and companionship, especially during difficult times. Having
these animals at the safe house with them meant that the women were able to settle in to the
safe house better and focus on moving forward with their lives, rather than worrying about
their animal’s safety or grieve the loss of, or temporary separation from, their relationship
with their animal. This research has highlighted the need for systematic changes to the way
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we understand family violence and how we view animals within our society, and the need for
the development and implementation of programs, like Tiaki have, that enable women,
children and animals to leave violence together.
Keywords: intimate partner violence, animal abuse, domestic violence, family violence,
feminism, Womens Refuge, Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge, Society of the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)