Can Threats To Harm Pets Be Included In A Domestic Violence Complaint?

Threats to harm pets are increasingly recognized as a form of emotional and psychological abuse in domestic violence cases. Although Indian law primarily focuses on protection of persons, such threats can be integral to coercion and intimidation tactics used by perpetrators to control or frighten the aggrieved person. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) allows inclusion of such threats as part of emotional abuse under domestic violence.

Can Threats To Harm Pets Be Included In A Domestic Violence Complaint?

1. Recognition of Emotional Abuse and Intimidation

The PWDVA defines domestic violence to include emotional abuse and intimidation causing mental harm to the aggrieved person.

Threats to harm pets can cause significant psychological distress and fear, qualifying as emotional abuse.

2. Legal Precedents and Judicial Views

Courts have acknowledged that harming or threatening to harm pets can be used as leverage against the victim, making it part of coercive control.

Such behavior can strengthen the domestic violence complaint and support issuance of protection orders.

3. Protection Orders Including Threats to Pets

Magistrates can issue protection orders restraining the respondent from threatening or harming the aggrieved person’s pets.

The court can consider these threats seriously while granting relief.

4. Animal Protection Laws

Separate laws like the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 provide protection to animals, but these are distinct from domestic violence laws.

However, threats to pets in domestic settings are often viewed through the lens of emotional abuse in DV cases.

Consumer Safety Tips

Document any threats to pets, including messages, recordings, or witnesses.

Include pets in the description of protected persons or property in the DV complaint.

Seek legal advice to ensure comprehensive protection orders.

Report any actual harm to pets to local animal welfare authorities.

Use Protection Officers to assist in enforcement of orders.

Example

Scenario:

Anita’s husband threatens to kill their pet dog whenever she tries to oppose him or seek help.

Actions Anita Can Take:

File a domestic violence complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, including the threat to her pet as part of emotional abuse.

Request a protection order prohibiting her husband from threatening or harming the dog.

Provide evidence of these threats to the court.

Coordinate with Protection Officers to ensure the order is enforced.

Report any actual cruelty to the pet to animal welfare authorities for additional protection.

This approach helps Anita safeguard both her emotional well-being and the safety of her pet during the domestic violence case.