Funding for veterinary training on the link between animal abuse and domestic abuseFunding for veterinary training on the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse
Produced by the Freedom of Information officeAuthored by Justice and Home Affairs and published on
08 July 2025.Prepared internally, no external costs.
Request 721753844
The VAWG report recommended that veterinary professionals in Jersey should receive regular training on the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse, indicators of domestic abuse and the referral pathways available to victim-survivors on the island. Funding has been successfully secured and the training provider, Links Group, has been appointed.
Please confirm how much funding has been secured for this, provide a breakdown of how it will be spent, and confirm what the training will entail.
Response
How much funding has been secured for this
£5,400 has been allocated, of which £1,000 was allocated as part of a specific Common Strategic Policy commitment to implement the recommendations of the VAWG Taskforce, with the remainder to be drawn from Cabinet Office general budget.
Breakdown of how it will be spent
£1,000 contribution to Links Group
£3,000 for travel and accommodation for facilitators
£1,000 for venue hire
£400 for catering
These are the current estimated figures – there may be minor variations in travel and venue costs.
Confirm what the training will entail
The training will be offered to all veterinary practice staff including:
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary nurses
• Student vets
• Receptionists
• Other team members
The training will consist of introductory two-hour online training dealing with the human-animal bond and the connection with domestic, child and animal abuse, followed by an in-person six-hour training day that covers:
• the complexity of abuse
• recognising abuse and identifying non-accidental injury in animals
• the police response to domestic abuse
• animal welfare from a legal perspective
• domestic abuse pet fostering services.
Two separate in-person training days will be offered, allowing professionals from the same practice to attend on different days, helping to minimise disruption to veterinary work.
Representatives from related professions, such as social workers and those from relevant referral pathways, will be invited to attend the session. Relevant resources will also be shared with these professions.
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