A new service, The Freedom Project, launched today by Dogs Trust – the UK’s largest dog welfare charity – will open the door to freedom for thousands of London women, and their dogs, who are victims of domestic violence.
In the UK there are around 5.15 million households that own a dog(1). Research has indicated(2) that there is a link between animal abuse and domestic violence; men who are violent to women may threaten to harm or actually kill a beloved pet in order to intimidate their partner into obedience and silence, thereby using the pet to maintain power and control. Many women remain in a violent domestic situation simply for fear of what might happen to their pet if they flee without it, especially if it means having to separate children from their beloved family pet.
The Freedom Project is an innovative pet fostering scheme for women going into refuges or temporary accommodation. It works by temporarily placing the dog at risk with a volunteer foster carer who will care for that dog in their own home until they can be safely reunited with their owner. During the foster placement the Freedom Project provides all pet food and veterinary treatment free of charge. Total anonymity is assured, dogs will not be fostered in the area where the owner is from and the carer who fosters the dog will not know who the owner is or where they live. Freedom Project staff provide help and support and each placement is monitored on a regular basis.
There are nearly 13 million incidents of domestic violence against women annually in the UK(3) and two women are killed each week by a current or former partner(4).
Clare Kivlehan, Freedom Project Manager:
“Unfortunately women often remain in a violent situation as they fear their partner will deliberately harm their pet if they leave; it often comes down to making the choice between your own safety and that of their dogs. The Freedom Project allows women in this terrible situation to know that their beloved pet will be cared for and they can escape the violent household and into safety.”
Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge:
“One woman I met told me that her husband often used the dog as a weapon of control and in a rage threw their beloved dog off the balcony of their high rise flat. If a man can hit an animal the woman is bound to think “it could be me next”. With the Freedom Project only a phone call away women and children can now be sure that their pets can also be rescued. Women, children and their pets all have a right to live in safety.”
Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, the national domestic violence charity:
“The statistics are shocking, with one in four women experiencing domestic violence at some stage in their lives. We know that many women have to make tough choices when deciding to leave an abuser – and abusers use threats to kill or torture a family pet as a form of control. The Freedom project will help many of these vulnerable pets and we commend Dogs Trust for developing this much needed service.”
Freedom Project, PO Box 50208
London EC1V 7XP.
T: 0800 298 9199
Dogs Trust is also urging anyone who thinks that they could help and become a Foster Carer to contact the Freedom Project. Applicants will need to be able to look after the dog during the day, live in the Greater London Area and have experience in caring for dogs.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
It is run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge.
This is the freephone helpline and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and all calls are confidential.
The Freedom Project is launched in the Greater London area and will be rolled out in other areas of the UK at a later date.
Case Study:
Sarah called the Freedom Project after suffering domestic violence at the hands of her partner John for several years. She and her four children were able to find temporary accommodation but unfortunately they couldn’t take Bob, their beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with them.
Luckily Sarah found out about the Freedom Project through her local refuge. The Freedom Project were quickly able to find a foster carer that was a perfect match so they collected Bob and took him to his new, temporary home with Ellie, his new foster carer. Bob soon settled in well with Ellie and after a few hours was making himself comfortable with her two cats.
In all Bob stayed with Ellie for four months. The Freedom Project made sure Sarah and her children knew all about what Bob was getting up to and were sent regular pictures that really helped to reassure them how Bob was and gave them a chance to start a new, safer, life away from harm. Eventually Sarah and her children were rehoused and Freedom Project staff were able to reunite Bob with his family once more.
“I don’t even want to imagine what might have happened if we had left Bob when we went to the refuge. There was no way we could leave him behind and I really don’t know what we would have done without the Freedom Project,” said Sarah. “I would have had to give him up and the kids would have been heartbroken. It’s been unbelievably hard but now we have been reunited and can make a new start together.”
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Please see separate information sheet for further information regarding domestic violence and the links between it and the abuse of animals and children.
Domestic violence is classed as being physical, emotional, psychological or sexual violence, experienced by people in a domestic relationship. This can range from slaps, kicks, punches, shaking and wounding, to murder. It includes making someone perform and/or receive unwanted sexual acts, and rape. It also includes harassment, threats of violence and intimidating or humiliating behaviour, making someone feel stupid, verbal abuse, destroying property, threatening or actual harm to family pets and making someone afraid by using looks, actions and gestures.
(1) Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA)
(2) Links Group publication ‘Understanding the links (child abuse, animal abuse and domestic violence)’ can be downloaded:
(3) 12.9 million incidents non sexual domestic violence; 190,000 serious sexual assaults; 47,000 rapes (80,000 including attempts); 1.2 millions stalked - CPS February 2005
(4) Homicide Statistics, 1998.
Freedom Project staff are available for interviews, filming and photography as are case studies.
For more information please contact:
Sharon Hatt
Dogs Trust Press Office
Tel: 020 7833 7620
Out of hours mobile: 07768 616 280
or visit
For further information please visit:
Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.
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