Trapped by love for their pets: 53% of abuse victims stay in violent homes, fearing their animals will be harmed if they leave. With many refuges unable to accommodate pets, these beloved family members become a heartbreaking barrier to safety, tragically caught in the cycle of violence.
Up Next in Breaking Silence Season 2
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Breaking Silence Season 2 Got Your Ba...
Last year, 53,000 NZ women sought refuge from abuse, often fleeing with nothing. Tam was one, escaping a violent partner. But arriving at the safehouse, a simple, unexpected gesture changed everything, offering not just safety, but a new beginning and hope for her future.
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Breaking Silence Season 2 Laulima Hansen
Research shows victims of childhood abuse are twice as likely to enter an abusive relationship as adults. Lima, who once rejected her Samoan roots to escape her past, found strength in her faith. It gave her the power to forgive and the courage to share her powerful story of survival and healing.
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Breaking Silence Season 2 Debbs Murray
In New Zealand, nine women are killed annually by a partner or ex. Debbs, a near-victim, shares her story to expose "coercive control"—the insidious pattern of exploitative, dominating behavior used to imprison women in relationships. Her testimony illuminates this critical warning sign of abuse.
