Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session

“Women’s Best Friend”: Assessing the Impact of Animal-Inclusive Protection Orders 

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1:15-2:30pm– August 19, 2026

Lakewood Ballroom

Field Services

There is mounting evidence that animal abuse and intimate partner violence commonly co-occur, that animal abuse is a marker of heightened risk, and that victims often delay leaving abusers due to concern for their animal companions. One highly utilized strategy for protecting both human and animal victims of intimate partner violence is the inclusion of animals in protection orders, now in effect in 42 states. This legislative solution mitigates a significant threat to survivors, both during the relationship and post-separation. But how did this process get started? How has it been implemented? What have been the challenges? And how successful is it? This presentation will review how acts or threats of animal cruelty become coercive control in intimate partner violence, the rationale behind animal-inclusive protection orders, and the effectiveness of these laws. We’ll offer recommendations to further protect human and animal victims from abuse and coercive control.

Robyn Levy

Phil Arkow

Phil Arkow, co-founder of CFAWA and a 20-year veteran of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, is President & Secretary of the National LINK Coalition – the Global Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence where he edits the monthly LINK-Letter, with over 6,200 subscribers. An internationally acclaimed lecturer, author and educator, he teaches at the University of Florida and Harcum College. He has presented over 400 times in 17 countries and has authored over 100 key reference works on human-animal interactions and violence prevention.

He co-founded the National Link Coalition, the National Animal Control Association, and the Colorado and New Jersey humane federations. He has served with the AVMA, the ASPCA, American Humane, the Delta Society, the Animals & Society Institute, the National Sheriffs Association, the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals, the National District Attorneys Association, the Academy on Violence & Abuse, and the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from New Jersey Child Assault Prevention.