There’s more to Fido than a cute smile and floppy ears, as pet abuse and domestic violence against women often go hand-in-hand.

Last July, police attended a unit at Sydney's Chester Hill where a man allegedly punched, slapped and choked a 20-year-old woman.

A 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with 33 animal cruelty offences, including allegedly killing several rabbits.

Dr Lydia Tong, a Zoo and Wildlife Pathologist at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, has compared cases of abused dogs and identified common features so that vets can distinguish accidents from abuse.

“U.S. studies tell us that domestic violence perpetrators who also abuse pets are more dangerous—they have increased rates of physical and sexual violence and stalking, and are more likely to kill their partner,” Dr Tong says.

Port Arthur massacre gunman Martin Bryant was referred to mental health officials at the ages of seven and 11 for torturing animals. As a boy, U.S. mass murder Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of cats and dogs on sticks, and Ivan Milat tortured animals before the Belanglo State Forest backpacker murders.

On average more incidents of domestic violence happen in regional NSW than in metropolitan Sydney.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows the 2023 domestic violence assaults rate was 592.8 incidents per 100,000 people in regional NSW compared to 360 incidents per 100,000 people in Sydney.

Pets are sources of emotional support, which make them vulnerable to abuse as a way to further isolate and traumatise the victim, says Jane, the Safety Action Meeting Coordinator at the Illawarra Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (DVCAS).

“The aftermath of domestic violence leaves women with various urgent priorities, such as addressing their own medical needs, attending court proceedings, and securing housing,” Jane says.

“Pets often endure prolonged suffering as their care becomes a secondary concern.”

“The lack of pet-friendly rental options and temporary accommodation exacerbates this dilemma, forcing women to make impossible decisions between leaving their pets behind or remaining in unsafe environments,” she says.

The RSPCA's Community Domestic Violence Program provides short-term and emergency housing and care for pets.

While NSW police is acting on domestic violence, it does not report on the relationship between animal cruelty and domestic violence.

Many American communities now cross-train social-service and animal-control agencies to recognise signs of animal abuse as possible indicators of other abusive behaviours.

In 2021, the definition of domestic violence was expanded in family law to include emotional manipulation, withholding money and harming the family pet.

Last year, the Veterinary Practitioners Board of New South Wales upgraded its policies on reporting suspected animal injury as some ex-partners had taken healthy animals to the vet for euthanasia.

The latest Federal government budget has allocated $925.2m to make the Leaving Violence Program (LVP) permanent. The scheme offers people leaving abusive relationships up to $5,000 in financial support and refers them to social services and safety planning.

For more information about family and domestic violence support services:

1800 RESPECT national helpline: 1800 737 732

Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491

Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114

Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277