main content ABA House Passes Resolution to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors and their Pets

On February 3, 2025, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates overwhelmingly adopted an important resolution aimed at safeguarding domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets in family law and civil restraining order proceedings. The report for the resolution extensively documents the proven link between animal cruelty and domestic violence, as well as the close bond between people and their companion animals.

Today, 82 million American households have at least one pet, with 97% of pet owners viewing pets as family members. This bond, however, can also make pets vulnerable, and they are often targeted by abusers as part of the exercise of power and control in domestic abuse situations. Research shows that up to 89% of domestic violence victims report that their pets have been threatened, harmed, or killed by their abuser, underscoring the critical need for more legal protections. Survivors often delay leaving an abuser or are forced to leave pets behind when seeking safety for themselves due to a lack of options for ensuring the safety and well-being of pets. 

While all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the federal government, and the U.S. territories criminalize animal cruelty, Resolution 504 builds on that foundation by providing a legal roadmap for civil legal tools to safeguard domestic violence victims and their pets.

Megan Senatori, Associate Director of the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS), who co-chairs the Companion Animal Law Subcommittee within the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the ABA, helped to lead the advocacy effort and was one of the co-authors of the resolution and report. Lewis & Clark JD students Mei Brunson (3L) and Isaac Christman (3L), assisted with legal research, writing, and cite-checking during their CALS clerkships. Brunson was also Student Chair of the Companion Animal Law Subcommittee during her clerkship.

Senatori was one of three speakers to address the House of Delegates at the ABA Midyear Meeting. She drew upon her decades of experience working on the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty, including co-founding Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims, a Wisconsin nonprofit. Discussing the deep bond that victims and their children share with their pets, she urged the House: “Survivors bravely do all they can to protect their pets from an abuser. Now, it’s our turn to help.”

Resolution 504 calls on “federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to enact legislation and/or support judicial processes that protect individuals by protecting their pets in family law and civil restraining order proceedings and increase access to justice for all persons by:

1. Making provisions for the safety, well-being, and best interest of pets in domestic relations proceedings, including considering any existence or prior history of family violence and/or animal cruelty, when entering orders and/or assigning ownership of pets in domestic relations cases;
2. Protecting victims of domestic and other violence by including protections for pets in civil protection orders issued in response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, and/or for protection of the elderly and/or orders issued in response to other forms of abuse; and
3. Removing barriers to victims seeking safety for themselves and their pets through promoting greater emergency and transitional shelter and housing options as well as improving access to pro bono legal services to facilitate safe housing and legal representation of victims with pets.”

By recognizing the human-animal bond, the resolution protects pets and provides essential support for domestic violence survivors and their children, aiding their emotional and psychological healing.

Resolution 504 was offered by the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and co-sponsored by the Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Family Law Section. It was supported by the Dispute Resolution Section and the Section of State & Local Government Law. Senatori says passage of the resolution “is a magnificent example of the power of collaboration among key stakeholders. I’m grateful for and inspired by the many dedicated lawyers who worked together on this resolution. It will change lives by helping to repair the lack of access to justice for domestic abuse survivors with pets.”

Watch the video of the presentations before the House of Delegates and read Resolution 504 and Report.

Senatori teaches Companion Animal Law in the online animal law advanced degree program. In the course, Animal Law LLM and MSL students study the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty. Students also analyze legal tools to help victims and their pets, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the field by helping vulnerable people and animals.

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law advocates and advance animal protection through the law. With vision and bold risk-taking, CALS has since developed into a world-renowned animal law epicenter. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from 30 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a self-funded Center within the law school operating under the Lewis & Clark College 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is able to provide these educational opportunities through donations and grants.