Training and Resources

Our training and resources are based on our domestic abuse practice and academic research expertise. We offer a wide range of professionals from human and animal welfare services new and innovative training that is vital in terms of safeguarding all victim-survivors of domestic abuse – adults, children and animals.

Our training is facilitated by Mary our Founder and Chief Executive Officer. We are also a member of The Links Group and often co-deliver training with our Links Group partners and other leading experts.

Mary Wakeham-Founder-Refuge4PetsDr Mary Wakeham, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mary has over 15 years practice experience working in the domestic abuse sector, including founding Refuge4Pets in 2017 driven by her passion to enable freedom from domestic abuse for all victim-survivors (people and animals). She is also an academic researcher with a specialism in the dynamics and implications of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse, more specifically animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control.

Training Course:
Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control: Safeguarding People and Animals
(Co-delivered with our Links Group partners)

This free webinar aims to:

  • Increase understanding about the use and abuse of animals by perpetrators of domestic abuse and the impact that this has on all victim-survivors – adults, children and animals.
  • Raise awareness about animal related risks and how to incorporate these into practice, including risk assessments and safety plans.
  • Provide you with the information and resources that you need to safeguard victim-survivors of domestic abuse (people and animals) by adopting a more integrated approach across human and animal welfare sectors.

What our attendees say:

  • “The training was fantastic and so great to see. I have never had training like this before so it would be incredible if we could see it being rolled out more widely.”
  • “This was brilliant training – I feel a lot more confident in approaching this prevalent issue.”
  • “I have completed the training before, however I really get a lot from revisiting your training and love that you are always updating and modifying the content to keep it current and evolving.”
  • “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for accommodating us as a group for the training, it was a really interesting session and a great space to be able to discuss some of the cases we come across.”

Next Training Sessions:

  • Thursday 27th November from 10:00am – 12:30pm (this session is for people working in human welfare sectors including domestic abuse advocates, police, social workers, housing, health, probation, substance misuse professionals and so on). Please book your place here >>>
  • Wednesday 3rd December from 10:00am – 12:30pm (this session is for people working in animal welfare sectors including charities, local authorities, policing, behaviourists and so on). Please book your place here >>>

Delivery
This training course is free and is delivered online via Microsoft Teams.

We can also offer bespoke training for organisations so please contact us on 0300 4000 121, or by emailing info@refuge4pets.org.uk to discuss your training requirements.

Resources

Visit The Links Group Virtual Learning Hub to find free online training and resources.

Adaption of the original Power and Control Wheel to include animals, approved by The Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (TheDuluthModel.org). Wakeham, M. (2021)

Abuse of Animals Wheel, approved by The Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (TheDuluthModel.org). Wakeham, M. (2021)

Research

Wakeham, M. (2021) Animal Abuse as a strategy of coercive control, PhD Dissertation, University of Bristol. Available here >>>

Wakeham, M. (2025) Animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control. Journal of Gender-Based Violence (published online ahead of print 2025). doi: 10.1080/02619761003602246