Pandemic Pets: How the Demand for Dogs Affects In‐Home Domestic Violence During COVID ‐19

ABSTRACT During the COVID‐19 pandemic, Dallas County, Texas implemented a 52‐day shelter‐in‐place order, forcing residents to remain at home. Using daily crime reports and animal shelter intake data, we study the effect of household pet outflows on in‐home violence. We find that the shelter‐in‐place order is associated with increased in‐home assaults, particularly against women. The way pets exit households matters, as we find fostering pets mitigates in‐home violence, while owner surrenders are associated with increased assaults during the order. These results highlight pets as a previously understudied factor in domestic violence dynamics and suggest that coordinated policies integrating animal shelters, women's shelters, and law enforcement could improve safety. By facilitating safe pet placement, such interventions may allow victims to leave abusive households more freely, reducing family violence and protecting both humans and animals.