Domestic violence awareness: The role of vet med in a One Health system

Content warning: domestic violence, intimate partner abuse

What does veterinary medicine have to do with domestic violence?

On the surface, the connection might not be obvious, but when you dig a bit deeper, the role that veterinary professionals can play in helping people—and pets—impacted by domestic violence becomes quite clear.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), which is domestic violence between romantic partners, affects more than 12 million people every year. Close to half of all men and women in the US have experienced psychological aggression from an intimate partner, and, according to the CDC, that means around 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced this trauma. Women and individuals who are part of marginalized communities are at greater risk than other populations.

There are many reasons why people may struggle to leave an abuser, including the presence of pets. Not only have these pets sometimes been a lifeline and source of support throughout the abuse, but there’s also the fear of what the abuser will do to the pet if he or she is left behind—and many shelters available to survivors are not able to accept animals.

According to a survey conducted by the Urban Resource Institute (URI)—the largest domestic violence residential service provider in the US—and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline)—a national 24-hour domestic violence crisis line—97% of respondents considered keeping their pets an important factor in seeking shelter; half of respondents would not consider shelter for themselves without their pet.

Chances are good that these devoted pet parents bring their pets to veterinary clinics like yours—sometimes due to actions the abuser has taken against the pet. So, even if you’re not aware of it, you probably have clients, or perhaps colleagues, who are survivors of domestic abuse.

Many people don’t know what signs to watch for or what actions they can safely take to help survivors—but as Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, it’s a fitting time for us all to learn more.

How veterinary clinics fit in

Veterinary hospitals may have unique opportunities to make a difference within a One Health system.

In the 2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships, Scenario D breaks down how IPV might present in a clinic setting. This scenario also shows how the veterinary professionals were able to identify a potential IPV situation (through changes to the client’s behavior as well as to the pet’s care, and by noticing the strained interactions between the client and her husband) and created an opportunity to speak with the survivor without the suspected abuser present. Then, they provided her with the number for a local domestic violence shelter that accepted pets, which she was able to call, safely, from their office phone.

If you’ve gotten to know your clients well, noticing changes like those described in the guidelines may be relatively easy. Starting that conversation, though, can be more difficult—and that’s even more true when it comes to clients with whom you haven’t already developed a strong relationship.

However, it’s not impossible. There are a number of ways you can help survivors know that your clinic is a space where they can safely seek support and resources, opening the door to those conversations.

Connecting with survivors

For starters, consider providing your staff with training options to help them identify and connect with those who may need support. Recognizing warning signs—in both clients and colleagues—can make a world of difference. Changes in mood and behavior, becoming withdrawn, a reduction in care for their pets, visible signs of abuse, and more could indicate a domestic violence situation.

Posting signs in private areas, like the restroom, with information about how survivors can let staff know they’re in need of assistance is also a simple way to facilitate that connection.

Another option is to include a box to check on the intake form to indicate they’d like to discuss how their home environment is impacting pet care. Although this isn‘t specific to domestic violence, it opens the door to a conversation about home life—which could give the client a chance to express concern about a partner, or other potential issues, like environmental allergies, interactions with other pets, and more. Remember, a key component of practicing family-centered care is providing communication opportunities before the appointment begins to better identify individual client needs.

If you’re offering support, you must have resources available for those in need. This form from the One Health Guidelines is a great start, but don’t limit yourself. Local shelters and agencies (especially those that are pet-friendly) may be the most useful, but different people have different needs; national hotlines and organizations may be better for some situations, so consider having a variety of support options listed.

And make sure your staff is trained on how to provide these clients with a private, secure area to make a call or have a conversation. This could be a code word to the rest of the team, a special sign on the door, you name it—just make sure it’s something your people will recognize without making the situation obvious to other clients, especially if the client is there with the suspected abuser. Keeping you and your staff safe is also important.

Above and beyond

Recognizing those in need of assistance and being ready to offer support is an amazing step to take.  If you feel called to take additional action to help domestic violence survivors, you’re in good company.

Take, for example, Kaleidoscope Health and Rescue in Endicott, New York. President and founder Alison Beaulieu, DVM, who is also the veterinarian and owner of Dicken Memorial Animal Hospital, has recently made news by stating that Kaleidoscope is ready to accept any animals in need of a safe place, including those belonging to individuals seeking shelter from an abusive situation. Beaulieu told her local news station that she wanted Kaleidoscope to become a sanctuary where people could take their pets and feel safe.

You could also take inspiration from  this partnership between St. Johns, Michigan, nonprofits Safe Center (a shelter for survivors of domestic violence) and Giving Paws (an animal rescue). Together, they aim to provide safe shelter for people escaping an abusive situation through Safe Center, knowing their pets will be in good hands with fosters vetted through Giving Paws until they’re able to take them back.

Just imagine how big a difference the veterinary profession could make, one family at a time, if we all made the effort to understand how prevalent domestic violence and IPV is and worked with our teams to make sure they’re familiar with common signs and local resources for support.

Photo credit: Pekic/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Disclaimer: Trends™ content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.