This Australian qualitative study used focus groups with 20 professionals (domestic violence, homelessness, legal, and animal welfare sectors) to explore barriers to pet-inclusive crisis support for domestic violence victim-survivors and the consequences of forced human-pet separation.
Two major themes emerged: (1) *Complexities of pet-inclusive safety and recovery* — including animal-based coercive control, decision-making barriers, pet safety concerns, and inconsistent responses; and (2) *Working within the system* — including workforce fatigue, legal barriers (pets classified as property), and fragmented cross-sector collaboration. Housing and funding gaps cut across both themes, with forced separation linked to increased grief, trauma, delayed escape, and secondary crises 6–8 months post-initial support.
- Small, purposive sample of 20 professionals; findings cannot be generalized to broader populations or other countries. - Organizations were identified via Google search, potentially missing specialized or confidential services. - No victim-survivor voices were directly included; all data reflects professional perspectives only.
Clinicians and crisis workers should routinely ask about pets during triage and safety planning, as pet-related barriers — including animal-based coercive control — directly delay escape and prolong trauma. Cross-sector referral pathways to pet fostering programs and pet-inclusive accommodation should be established proactively, not reactively.
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