Become a PAWS Champion© and help change the tail© for human and animal survivors of domestic abuse!

This training equips learners with the knowledge and skills needed to recognise how the exploitation of the human-animal bond is used as a form of coercive control. Learners will be able to confidently respond to this issue by including animals within a whole family and whole systems approach to domestic and sexual abuse.

This training is specifically designed to build on learners' existing knowledge of domestic abuse, serving as an advanced component in their ongoing professional development.

It has been tailored to meet the needs of those working in helping professions with humans. For example, those working in Independent Frontline Survivor Support, Housing, Social Care, Health, Drug and Alcohol Support.

Learners will:

1. Understand the typologies of the use of companion animals as a tactic of a coercive controlling behaviour.
   
   
2. Understand the Human-Animal Bond as a Protective Factor against abuse and suicidality.
   
   
3. Understand the link between animal abuse, risk and domestic homicide.
   
   
4. Understand multi-agency working and be able to signpost or refer to specialist services supporting both human and animal victim survivors of abuse.
   
   
5. Be able to include companion animals in a whole family and whole system approach to domestic abuse.

Post training learners will receive:

• PAWS Champion© Certificate
• PAWS Champion© Badge
• PowerPoint Slides
• Further Reading List

For direct bookings or questions, please email mayabadham@sahsda.org

About SAHSDA:

Safeguarding Animals & Human Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Abuse (SAHSDA) is an international organisation dedicated to training and education, research, and consultancy. SAHSDA focuses on helping professionals deepen their understanding of the connection between interpersonal abuse and the abuse of animals. We provide specialised support to enhance responses to the use of companion animals in domestic abuse and address issues of animal sexual abuse. SAHSDA’s mission is to inspire proactive action in safeguarding all survivors of abuse—human and animal alike—emphasising that all victim survivors, regardless of species, deserve protection.

Find out more about SAHSDA here www.sahsda.org

About your Trainer:

Maya Badham is a specialist in domestic abuse, sexual violence, and trauma informed practice, with subject matter expertise on the use of companion animals as a tactic of coercive control. With over a decade of experience in the field, she holds a Master’s in Human Rights Law and is a qualified Independent Sexual Violence Advisor with frontline support experience.

She is also a Level 4 qualified Trainer with over 5 years’ experience delivering training to statutory and voluntary organisations on a variety of subjects relating to Domestic and sexual Abuse. She previously served on the College of Policing’s Domestic Abuse Matters editorial board and was instrumental in developing the Level 4 Diploma in Advocacy and Support Skills for Working with Survivors, as well as the first Ofqual-regulated qualification in Safeguarding for Pet Professionals.

Maya holds a qualification in applied ethology and is a Family Dog Mediator. She has a particular research interest in trauma-informed responses to abused dogs. Her published works include the Compliance to Partnership Planet for Living with Dogs (2022) and the Dog Abuse Matrix (2024).

Tickets are non-refundable.