Campaigners are urging members of the public to contact their local politicians ahead of a parliamentary event focused on protecting pets in abusive households.
Ruby’s Law, a campaign seeking greater protection for animals affected by domestic abuse, will have its second reading in Parliament in October. Ahead of the milestone, campaigners are inviting MPs to a dedicated drop-in session at the House of Commons on 8th September to learn more about the proposed legislation and its potential impact on domestic abuse victims and their companion animals.
Pets and domestic abuse
Ruby’s Law seeks to address the often overlooked role pets can play in domestic abuse and give survivors greater confidence to seek safety without fearing for their animals.
90% of households experiencing domestic abuse in England and Wales reported that their animals were also abused by perpetrators. In 12% of these households, the pet was killed.
Pets can be used as tools of coercion and control in abusive relationships. Victims may delay leaving or return to dangerous situations because they fear for their pets’ safety and cannot find suitable accommodation for them.
Current family law does not adequately address the issue, leaving victims and their pets without sufficient protection. Ruby’s Law is calling for amendments to family law in England and Wales to explicitly protect pets in households affected by domestic abuse.
The campaign is seeking three key legal changes
- Legal recognition: Recognise pets as household members who can be affected by domestic abuse, alongside children and other family members.
- Protective mechanisms: Ensure pets are protected during court proceedings, with provisions for their care and well-being.
- Court responsibilities: Establish clear responsibilities for courts when making decisions about pets in domestic abuse cases and family law proceedings.
To achieve these aims, Ruby’s Law is proposing several legislative updates
- Expand Non-Molestation Orders: Amend Non-Molestation Orders under Section 42 of the Family Law Act 1996 to explicitly allow them to cover pets.
- Expand Occupation Orders: Amend Occupation Orders under Sections 33–38 of the Family Law Act 1996 to allow courts to decide who retains care of a pet and ensure its safety when determining occupation orders.
- Broaden the understanding of domestic abuse: Introduce language recognising that harm to pets can be used as a form of coercion or control, linking it to the broader definition of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
From campaign to parliament
Ruby’s Law was the subject of an Early Day Motion in November 2025, which received overwhelming cross-party support.
On 10th March 2026, Ruth Jones MP introduced the Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill in the House of Commons, formally bringing the campaign’s proposals into the parliamentary process. The Bill moved England and Wales closer to legal reform and received support from MPs across several political parties.
The campaign is now seeking to turn that parliamentary recognition into sustained political momentum and, ultimately, legislation.
Members of the public are being encouraged to email or write to their MP and ask them to attend the drop-in session at the House of Commons on 8th September. The event will give MPs an opportunity to hear directly about the campaign, the evidence behind it, and why reform is needed.
A draft letter is available on the Ruby’s Law website and can be used as a starting point for contacting MPs. Members of the public can add a request for their representative to attend the event.
Ruby’s Law was founded by family barrister Christina Warner, who has combined her experience as a family lawyer with her wider interest in animal protection and the links between violence against humans and animals.
Warner said: “Animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse can take many forms: threats to harm an animal, restricting access to veterinary treatment, withholding food or medication, taking a pet away, or threatening to kill an animal. But, while Ruby’s Law is about animal welfare, it is not simply that. It is also about family safety, domestic abuse and access to justice. Ruby’s Law seeks to remove the impossible choice between personal safety and the safety of a beloved animal.”
“Please encourage your MP to go along on 8th September. Every conversation with an MP helps demonstrate that this is not a niche animal welfare issue, but a genuine gap in the protection available to domestic abuse survivors and their pets.”