ABSTRACT
Domestic abuse against women and animals is recognised as a common and often-hidden aspect of coercion. This chapter reviews the difficulties around recognising this form of coercion, by identifying the risk factors and the impact which such abuse may have. The authors explore the links and interactions between human and animal abuse, in relation to the physiological model of the ‘stressful environment’. This recognises the effect on both victim and perpetrator both physically and emotionally. The concept of ‘domestic’, and what it means to trust, in both humans and animals, is then considered with their implications. Loss of trust, or emotional security, appears to be an important consequence of domestic abuse of both humans and animals. Once trust is lost, it appears to be very difficult to regain, and it may not be possible for the victim to fully trust their abusive partner or animal owner again.
