Domestic Abuse & Safety
Support to help you and your dog reach safety
Domestic abuse can include physical violence, threats, intimidation, coercive control, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial control and the use of a pet to frighten or control someone.
You do not have to make every decision today. Specialist services can help you consider your options, plan more safely and find temporary care for your dog when necessary.
Leaving can be a particularly high-risk time. You do not need to tell the person harming you that you are seeking help or planning to leave.
Immediate danger
Call 999 and ask for the police
Move to a safer place if you can do so without increasing the danger. Avoid confronting the person harming you or telling them that you are seeking help.
If you call 999 from a mobile and cannot speak, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted so the call can be transferred to the police.
You deserve support
Abuse is not your fault
Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence. It may involve a partner, ex-partner or family member controlling your choices, money, communication, movements, relationships, housing or access to your dog.
Someone may use a dog as part of the abuse by:
- threatening to harm or abandon the dog
- hurting or frightening the dog
- refusing money for food or veterinary care
- using the dog to force you to remain
- preventing you from taking the dog with you
- monitoring walks or veterinary appointments
- threatening to report you as an unfit owner
- using ownership disputes to maintain contact
These behaviours are serious. Specialist domestic abuse services can listen without judgement and help you think through what feels safest.
Speak to someone safely
Confidential domestic abuse support
Different specialist services are available depending on your identity, location and preferred way of communicating.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free and confidential support for women experiencing domestic abuse. The telephone helpline is available 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Visit the helpline website →Men’s Advice Line
Confidential information, practical advice and emotional support for men experiencing domestic abuse.
Visit Men’s Advice Line →Galop
Specialist support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime or other forms of abuse.
Telephone: 0800 999 5428
Visit Galop →Women’s Aid
Information about recognising abuse, safety planning, local services and protecting your privacy online.
Find Women’s Aid support →Your local domestic abuse service
Local services may provide advocacy, safety planning, refuge referrals, outreach support and help communicating with housing services.
Search for local support →Respect Phoneline
Confidential advice for people concerned about their own abusive or controlling behaviour and who want help to change.
Telephone: 0808 802 4040
Visit Respect Phoneline →Consider your safety
Planning without increasing the risk
There is no single correct way to respond to abuse. A specialist adviser can help you develop a plan around your circumstances, children, dog, housing, finances and level of risk.
Use a safer way to seek help
Where possible, use a device or telephone that the person harming you cannot access. This might be a trusted person’s phone, a work device, a library computer or another safe device.
Speak to a specialist adviser
A domestic abuse service can help you assess risk, understand housing options and plan how to leave or remain more safely.
Think about essential information
Where it is safe, identify important documents, medication, keys, emergency contacts and information relating to your dog. Do not gather or move items if doing so could alert the person harming you.
Plan your dog’s care
Contact a specialist fostering service discreetly if you may need to enter accommodation that does not accept dogs. Arranging care in advance may help you leave more safely.
Choose trusted support carefully
Tell only people you trust not to disclose your location, plans or contact details. Avoid sharing information through mutual friends who may unintentionally pass it on.
Technology safety
Could your device or accounts be monitored?
Someone may be able to view browsing history, location sharing, call records, emails, cloud accounts or messages.
Sudden changes such as deleting all browsing history, disabling location services or changing several passwords may sometimes alert a controlling person. Consider using a safer device and speak to a specialist adviser before making changes.
An exit button can leave a webpage quickly, but it cannot remove browser history or guarantee that your activity is hidden.
Consider using
- a trusted person’s device
- a work or library computer
- a new email address created safely
- private contact details where appropriate
- a safe address for correspondence
- support from a technology safety specialist
Protecting your dog
If you are worried about your dog’s safety
Threats or harm towards a dog may be used to control someone or prevent them from leaving. You do not need to surrender your dog permanently in order to seek safety.
Seek help confidentially
Contact a domestic abuse or specialist pet-fostering service using a safe method. Do not leave leaflets, correspondence or visible messages where they may be discovered.
Explore temporary fostering
Specialist services can sometimes place a dog with an assessed foster carer while their owner accesses refuge or emergency accommodation.
Keep useful records safely
Where safe, keep details of your dog’s microchip, vaccinations, medication, veterinary practice, insurance and normal care routine.
Get veterinary help when needed
Seek veterinary care if your dog has been injured or appears unwell. Tell the practice privately if sharing information or contacting the household could increase the risk.
Avoid advertising your dog online
Do not advertise your dog as free to a good home or disclose your location through public social media posts.
Specialist fostering is designed to be temporary and confidential, helping protect both the owner and the dog.
Temporary confidential care
Specialist support for dogs
Availability and coverage vary, so contact the service directly or ask a domestic abuse adviser to help you make a referral.
Dogs Trust Freedom
A free and confidential specialist fostering service for people escaping domestic abuse who cannot take their dog into refuge or emergency accommodation.
Dogs are placed with volunteer foster carers until their owners are safe, settled and able to be reunited with them.
Visit Dogs Trust Freedom →Endeavour Pet Fostering
Temporary pet fostering for people entering refuges or temporary accommodation because of domestic abuse.
The service operates in parts of North West England. Check current coverage and eligibility directly with Endeavour.
Visit Endeavour →Local domestic abuse services
A local advocate may know about fostering services, refuge arrangements and practical support available in your area.
Ask the service not to leave messages, send post or contact you in a way that could place you at risk.
Search for local support →Where it is safe
Information that may help a foster carer
Do not put yourself at risk to collect paperwork or belongings. A fostering service can tell you what is essential and what can be provided later.
Your dog’s name, age, breed or type and microchip information.
Veterinary practice details, medication and known health conditions.
Feeding routine, allergies and dietary requirements.
Behaviour around adults, children, dogs and other animals.
Exercise, toileting, sleeping and separation routines.
Familiar items that may help your dog settle, where safely available.
Reaching a safe place
Refuge and emergency housing with a dog
Many refuges and emergency accommodation providers cannot accept pets directly. This can create an additional barrier to reaching safety.
Tell the domestic abuse or housing adviser that you have a dog and need help arranging safe temporary care. Ask whether any suitable pet-friendly accommodation or specialist fostering service is available.
Your local council may also have responsibilities to assist if it is not reasonable or safe for you to remain in your home.
Tell the adviser
- whether you are safe at this moment
- whether children are involved
- whether your dog has been threatened or harmed
- whether your device is safe to contact
- whether you need confidential fostering
- how and when it is safe to contact you
Ongoing safety
After leaving an abusive situation
Abuse, harassment or controlling behaviour can continue after a relationship ends. Continue seeking specialist support and avoid disclosing a new location through public information.
Protect location information
Check photographs, social media posts, shared accounts, location services and information held by organisations before publishing or changing anything.
Protect your dog’s location
Ask foster carers, veterinary practices, groomers and other services not to disclose where you or your dog are staying.
Review shared technology safely
Consider shared cloud accounts, mobile contracts, smart-home devices, vehicle apps, trackers and pet technology with support from a technology safety adviser.
Continue specialist support
An advocate can help with housing, legal options, finances, benefits, safety planning and communication with other organisations.
Temporary support first
You may not need to permanently rehome your dog
During a crisis, permanent rehoming can feel like the only way to protect your dog or access safe accommodation.
Specialist confidential fostering may allow your dog to be cared for temporarily until you are safe, settled and able to be reunited.
If permanent rehoming genuinely becomes necessary, seek support from a reputable rescue or use a structured welfare-first process. Do not arrange an informal handover to an unknown person.
Explore first
- confidential specialist fostering
- pet-friendly safe accommodation
- support from a domestic abuse advocate
- temporary care from a trusted person
- housing and financial support
- veterinary help for an injured dog
Worried about someone else?
Support them without taking control away
Listen without judgement, believe what they tell you and avoid pressuring them to leave before they feel able to do so safely.
Do not confront the person you believe is causing harm. This could increase the risk or result in the survivor becoming more isolated.
- ask how it is safest to contact them
- offer practical help without making decisions for them
- avoid criticising them if they remain or return
- help them contact a specialist service from a safe device
- ask what support they need for their dog
- call 999 if someone is in immediate danger
You can also contact a domestic abuse helpline yourself for advice about how to support someone safely.
💜 The HomeWagger Promise
Support first. Welfare always.
HomeWagger exists to help people explore realistic support before making a permanent decision about their dog’s future.
Sometimes that means finding practical assistance. Sometimes it means adjusting routines or accessing professional guidance. And sometimes it means recognising that responsible rehoming is the safest way forward.
Whatever your circumstances, the goal is always the same: better outcomes for dogs and the people who care about them.
Common questions
Domestic abuse and dog safety FAQs
Do I have to be ready to leave before asking for help?
No. You can contact a domestic abuse service to discuss what is happening, understand your options and plan around your safety without committing to leave immediately.
What if the person harming me threatens my dog?
Tell a domestic abuse adviser that threats towards your dog are part of the abuse. They can include your dog’s safety when helping you plan and may be able to refer you to a specialist fostering service.
Call 999 if you, another person or your dog are in immediate danger.
Will I lose ownership of my dog during temporary fostering?
Specialist domestic abuse fostering services are designed to provide temporary care rather than permanent rehoming.
The service should explain its agreement, communication arrangements, veterinary care and reunion process before the placement begins.
Will the foster carer know where I am?
Specialist fostering services use confidentiality procedures to protect owners, dogs and foster carers. Ask the service to explain how contact and location information will be handled.
What if I cannot safely make a telephone call?
Some services provide webchat or online contact options. Use a safer device where possible and check how the service may reply before submitting information.
If you are in immediate danger and cannot speak on a mobile 999 call, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted.
Can I take my dog into a refuge?
Some accommodation may accept dogs, but many refuges are unable to house pets directly. Ask whether pet-friendly accommodation is available or whether temporary fostering can be arranged.
Can domestic abuse happen after a relationship ends?
Yes. Abuse can continue through harassment, stalking, financial control, threats, technology, child contact or disputes about a pet.
Continue seeking specialist support and tell the police if you are in danger or believe a crime has been committed.
Welfare first
You should not have to choose between safety and your dog
Concern for a dog’s welfare can be one of the reasons someone feels unable to leave an abusive situation.
Confidential fostering and specialist domestic abuse support can create another option: helping the person reach safety while the dog receives temporary care.
The responsibility for abuse belongs entirely to the person using abusive, violent or controlling behaviour.
Important safety information
HomeWagger provides general information and signposting only. We are not an emergency, domestic abuse, legal, housing, safeguarding or veterinary service.
Safety needs differ between individuals. Actions such as leaving, confronting an abuser, changing passwords, disabling tracking or collecting belongings may increase risk in some circumstances. Consider speaking to a specialist domestic abuse service before taking action.
An exit button cannot erase browsing history or guarantee that online activity is private.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.