A campaign group formed by a family law barrister to provide better support for victims of abuse and protect pets impacted by the cycle of violence is urging MPs to show support for a new bill.
Ruby’s Law, created by family barrister Christina Warner, has its second reading in Parliament in October. Before the reading, campaigners are inviting MPs to a drop-in session on 8th September to learn more about the proposed legislation and the positive impact they say it will have on victims of domestic abuse and their pets.
According to the campaign, 90% of households experiencing domestic abuse in England and Wales reported that animals were also abused by the perpetrators. In 12% of these households, the pet was killed.
Warner explained: “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.”
Campaigners for Ruby’s Law are calling for legislative amendments to current family law in England and Wales to explicitly protect pets in households where there is domestic abuse, with legal recognition of pets as household members.
Ruby’s Law proposes to expand non-molestation orders under section 42 of the Family Law Act 1996 to explicitly cover pets, and expand occupation orders under sections 33–38 of the act to include provisions for the court to decide who retains care of the pet and ensure the pet’s safety when determining occupation orders.
Campaigners also want to broaden the understanding of domestic abuse by introducing language which recognises that harm to pets can be used as a form of coercion or control, linking it to the broader understanding of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Ruby’s Law was the subject of an Early Day Motion in November 2025 and received support from 36, primarily Liberal Democrat, MPs. In June this year, Labour MP Ruth Jones introduced the Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill in the House of Commons to formally bring the campaign’s proposals into the parliamentary process.
“Please encourage your MP to go along on 8th September”, Warner urged. “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.”
A draft letter to MPs is available for supporters to download from the Ruby’s Law website, which campaigners say can be used as a starting point for contacting representatives.
