Jo Middleton, director of the Canine Principles education provider in Bloomsbury, was among the speakers at an All-Party Parliamentary meeting of the Dog Advisory welfare group at the Houses of Parliament.
The meeting pressed for changes in the law on domestic abuse by highlighting the link between animal welfare and human safety.
“Animal rescue workers often carry the emotional weight of witnessing trauma second-hand,” she told MPs. “It is crucial for all rescue workers helping animals that survive domestic abuse to have access themselves to a First Aider in mental health who is also trained in dog rescue mental health first aid.
“This would ensure that their wellbeing is compassionate and essential to rescue work and lowering team turnover and absences.”
The meeting arranged by the Naturewatch Foundation at the Palace of Westminster brought campaigners like Jo to lobby MPs, which included legal professionals and women who have been through domestic abuse.
Jo revealed details as part of her statement to MPs of a ‘mental health first aid for dog rescue workers’ course starting in Holborn next month at the International School for Canine Psychology.
MPs also heard testimonies from abuse victims including Sharon Livermore who now campaigns for every workplace to have a domestic abuse policy.
Another victim was Catherine Haworth who revealed legal cases showing how pets are often used in coercive control.
Christina Warner, founder of #RubysLaw, called for pets to be recognised as “victims in their own right” in family courts.
Mark Randell from the Naturewatch Foundation spoke about his decades-long mission to end animal cruelty and exploitation.
Jo Middleton said afterwards: “It was an important and moving evening that reinforced how vital it is to recognise the ‘human and animal bond’ at the heart of so many domestic abuse cases. We protect people when we protect animals.”
Her Canine Principles organisation is donating half the profits from its forthcoming symposium to the Naturewatch Foundation and the other half to the Centre for Animal Law.
