Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of role of (a) Dogs Trust’s Freedom and (b) other specialist services in supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse who are unable to leave abusive households due to concerns about their pets.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra has commissioned a research project, led by the University of Bristol, to explore the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse and to identify additional opportunities for intervention. Defra will consider the outcomes of this research once complete.

Defra committed in the Animal Welfare Strategy to work with charities to increase the awareness of fostering services available for the pets of victim-survivors to encourage them to flee from abuse. In February 2026, Baroness Hayman of Ullock visited the Cats Protection Lifeline project to discuss and promote its pet‑fostering service for victim-survivors.

The Department remains in regular discussions with organisations providing such services, including the Dogs Trust’s Freedom Project. Defra does not hold the requested data.