Not at all surprised by these statistics. If you have a good relationship with your local vet, just ask them outright if males are more inclined to abuse their pets, I’m certain they’ll say yes.

I remember my vet inquiring whether my husband and I were interested in taking on a kitten who’d been injured and subsequently surrender by a woman, who was also physically assaulted by her partner when she tried to protect the kitten.

We were floored and couldn’t believe this was a “thing”. He looked at me and I’ll never forget his reply, “everyday, this happens everyday”. He went on to explain women and children often surrendered their pets in fear of the violence and verbal threats males extended towards the family pets.

My husband and I adopted the kitten who is now 45 months old and thriving, but I’ve been haunted by that conversation ever since.