Focus groups were conducted Australia-wide among professional staff in the sectors of domestic violence, legal and animal welfare to better understand how to support women with pets seeking crisis support for domestic violence. This transformative research found these women were impacted by long-term trauma and prolonged recovery linked to separation from their pets, which resulted in them returning later to seek additional professional crisis support from these sectors. A lack of pet inclusive accommodation, financial poverty and poor mental health further adversely affected the healing and recovery process. To make systemic improvements, challenges, such as a lack of standard care for pet inclusive strategies and collaboration between sectors, must be addressed. Separation from pets at times of domestic violence results in increased psychological distress and an increased risk to safety for women, children, and the animals. Women often delay leaving the relationship, experience animal-based coercive control, and may return to the perpetrator because of concerns about their pets. This research confirms pet inclusive standard care is required across the sectors of domestic violence, homelessness, legal, animal welfare, women’s organisations and shelters. Findings provide guidance to professionals working in these areas and a pet-inclusive framework has been developed to guide policy makers, legislators, and community and corporate leaders to improve the safety of affected parties and to support the recovery process. This research is a valuable contribution to the conference as it addresses the often-overlooked and critical issues of forced separation from pets in domestic violence situations. By integrating insights from domestic violence, legal, and animal welfare sectors, it offers a comprehensive approach to support survivors. Our research challenges existing barriers and advocates for systemic changes, promoting pet-inclusive strategies that can significantly reduce trauma and enhance recovery.