ACT Party Proposes Criminalizing Pet Abuse in Family Violence

The ACT party announced a policy on Sunday to criminalize the use of companion animals as instruments of coercion and control within family violence. Unveiled at a Pet Refuge facility in Auckland, the proposal seeks to amend the Crimes Act to create a specific offense for coercion by animal abuse, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

If re-elected, the party intends to strengthen Protection Orders to prevent offenders from withholding or selling pets and ensure animals are not left with abusers during legal proceedings. The policy would also require police to record pets on family harm reports and grant officers the statutory authority to move animals to secure locations, such as the SPCA or Pet Refuge.

Party leader David Seymour and spokesperson Karen Chhour stated that New Zealand is currently behind jurisdictions such as New South Wales and over 40 U.S. states that already incorporate companion animals into protection orders. They argued that abusers exploit the bond between victims and their pets to trap them in dangerous homes. Dame Julie Chapman, founder of Pet Refuge, supported the measures, noting that protecting pets removes a significant barrier for victims seeking to leave abusive environments.