Gemma was regularly beaten by her partner during their three year relationship but was unable to leave as she was worried about what would happen to her beloved dog Dusty if she left him behind
A BRAVE abuse survivor waived her right to anonymity to explain why she stayed in a violent relationship for three years in order to protect her beloved dog.
Gemma appeared on today's This Morning alongside her loyal dog Dusty to share some of the harrowing experiences she had suffered at the hands of her former partner Richard - as her son and the Rottweiler German Shepherd cross watched on.
Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, she said: "I was going through a battle with myself at the time.
"I couldn't believe I'd let this happen to me, my son's had to go through it and my dog's had to watch it - as he did, he was at the dining room window watching the attacks in the living room."
Gemma said that the first incident of abuse came just two months in to her relationship with her "lovable rogue" ex, claiming he strip searched her in their front garden while holding her son.
"I got quite a good hiding," she said.
More incidents followed, including almost being stabbed in the neck with a trowel after he had been up all night digging up a bush in the garden.
Gemma said: "It got to the point where I didn't want to be here any more I wanted to die.
"He apologised after the first one. He had just come back in to society after being in prison.
"He had had a destructive childhood. There was no excuse or reason for his behaviour but there were reasons for how he was."
She said that her cries for help from family and friends had been ignored, and that she "cried all day every day" to Dusty, who she had had for a year before meeting her ex.
"You knew how he was feeling, how he had witnessed the abuse,"; said Holly, gently.
Gemma sadly agreed, and recalled how one time her ex had knocked her out only for her to regain consciousness and find Dusty protecting her.
She said: "I remember being on the floor and Dusty cornered me and when I looked up he was growling and there was blood everywhere and he had bitten him."
When Gemma was finally offered a hostel place she was left in an impossible predicament - she couldn't take Dusty.
She told Holly and Phil that she knew her ex would kill him if he was left behind, but thankfully the Dog's Trust were able to step in.
Their offers a free fostering programme for people fleeing domestic violence, so Gemma was able to pass Dusty on to them for safe keeping until she was settled in her own place.
Today for the first time ever, she got to meet Frank, the kindly widower who had started fostering dogs to help him deal with the loss of his wife and given a safe temporary home to her dog-baby.
"I didn't have to worry about him, I knew he was safe, I knew where he was," she said, as the thanked the elderly gentleman for helping her and her dog escape to a safer future.
"I owe you so much, thank you, I am so grateful," Gemma cried.
"It's nice to know I get the company of the dogs and that I am helping someone as well," he smiled.
Last month it was announced that domestic abuse victims would be allowed to jump the queue for long-term homes.
And upsetting stats reveal that cops drop almost 500 domestic abuse cases a DAY as terrified victims withdraw evidence.
