The storyline involving the dog Piper breaks the hearts of fans. But it’s undoubtedly part of a domestic abuse narrative, and Emmerdale has portrayed it very well!
- Posted on August 21, 2024
During Friday’s episode of the soap Tom King will deliberately rev his car in the direction of Belle Dingle’s dog Piper.
Emmerdale’s Tom King and Belle Dingle storyline is to show how domestic abusers can use family pets as a “weapon”.
During Friday’s episode viewers will watch Tom deliberately rev his car in the direction of Belle’s dog Piper in order to exert control over her.
James Chase, who plays Tom, said his character is “well aware of the control he can exert by using his dog” in his abuse of Belle, played by Eden Taylor-Draper.
“He knows her reaction to Piper being injured will mean he can then be the one to comfort her and get close to her again.
Paula Boyden, veterinary director at Dogs Trust, said: “The recent storyline involving Belle, Tom and Piper is incredibly distressing, but sadly it is reflective of what we too often see through our work.
“Those we support share their stories of the many ways that perpetrators use pets to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten within abusive relationships.
pet food or paying vet bills, and we’ve seen tragic cases of violence against animals, as well as threatening behaviour like in this storyline.
“It’s important that soaps do not shy away from the horrific reality of domestic abuse and all its impacts.”
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said viewers will see Tom put Piper in “great jeopardy” to try and keep control of Belle and added that it is “all too common that domestic abusers will use the family pet as a weapon”.
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During Friday’s episode of the soap Tom King will deliberately rev his car in the direction of Belle Dingle’s dog Piper. Emmerdale’s Tom King and Belle Dingle storyline is to show how domestic abusers can use family pets as a “weapon”. During Friday’s episode viewers will watch Tom deliberately rev his car in the direction of Belle’s dog Piper…