Charity calls for 'pet abuse' to be included in domestic violence law

Sonas is calling on the Government to change the laws to explicitly state that pet abuse is a 'distinct form' of coercive control in abusive relationships. File picture

Family pets are being harmed by abusers as a form of coercive control, according to a national domestic violence charity.

Sonas says that, in one case it dealt with, a woman was sent a video by her husband of him “pouring boiling water” over the family dog.