Ruby’s Law: Integrating Animal Welfare into Domestic Abuse Legislation

Ruby’s Law is a proposed legal reform in England & Wales (and gaining attention elsewhere) aimed at better protecting pets in the context of domestic abuse. 

What Ruby’s Law proposes

The campaign advocates the following changes:

• Amendments to the Family Law Act 1996 (England & Wales) so that pets (e.g., cats, dogs, other companion animals) are formally recognised as part of the household when courts deal with domestic abuse matters. 

• Expand the scope of non-molestation orders (currently to protect people) to explicitly include preventing abusers from harming, threatening or removing pets. 

• Expand occupation orders (which govern who can live in a home) to allow the court to decide on pet custody (i.e., who keeps the pet) when issuing those orders, thus preventing perpetrators from retaining or harming the pet as a means of control. 

• Recognise pet-abuse or threats against pets as a form of coercive control in domestic abuse situations. In other words, harming or threatening a pet is used as an abuse tactic and should be treated accordingly. 

Why is this considered important?

Research shows that in many domestic abuse cases, pets are also threatened or harmed by the abuser to exert pressure on the human victim. For example: “90 per cent of households experiencing domestic abuse reported that their pets were also abused.” 

For many victims, the fear of leaving the abusive situation is exacerbated by the worry for the safety of their pet (who may be left behind). So protecting pets may help victims escape. 

Currently (in England & Wales) the law does not clearly recognise pet-abuse in the domestic abuse context as part of the same dynamic of control and fear. Ruby’s Law seeks to fill that gap.

Current status & challenges

Ruby’s Law is a campaign, not yet fully codified into legislation in England & Wales. It is being pushed by advocates for both human and animal welfare. 

One of the key legal challenges is integrating animal welfare concerns into family law (which traditionally deals only with human members of a household).

There will need to be careful drafting so that courts can handle issues of pet custody and abuse in a way that doesn’t overload the system but still offers meaningful protection.

It will also require buy-in from lawmakers, family courts, animal welfare organisations and domestic abuse services.

Implications

If enacted, this could mean when someone obtains a non-molestation or occupation order for domestic abuse, the order might also explicitly cover the pet: e.g., preventing the abuser from taking or harming the family pet, or forcing the abuser to hand over the pet to the victim.

It may also mean that courts will take evidence of pet-abuse or threats to pets as part of the overall pattern of abuse, which can strengthen cases against perpetrators.

In this way it has the potential to open up better support routes (shelters, services) which recognise that many victims don’t leave abusive situations because of their concern for the welfare of their pets.

If you are in an abusive situation contact us and chat with one of our family law experts. We’re here to support you every step of the way — legal advice, guidance, and connections to services.