Companion-animal-inclusive domestic violence practice: Implications for service delivery and social work

INTRODUCTION: Based on an understanding of links between human- and animal-directed domestic violence, this article: 1) argues for companion-animal inclusive domestic violence service delivery; and 2) reflects on the challenges this offers to social work and the human services. APPROACH: We start by considering the importance of companion animals in many people's lives and then offer an overview of material on "the link" between human- and animal-directed violence, specifically as it pertains to domestic violence. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for service design and provision are discussed. We conclude with brief comments about the importance of centring animals in future considerations of human-animal violence links and outline how this offers an opportunity to challenge and re-think the humanist foundations on which traditional social work is built.