Protect Pets, Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Domestic violence victims already face many barriers to leaving an abusive situation -- physical, psychological, financial, and covered in fur.

That's right: on the Animal Welfare blog, Stephanie Feldstein writes about how the knowledge that walking away will abandon Fluffy to possible torture or death at the hands of an abusive partner keeps many women at home when they should be out the door.

The connection between domestic violence and animal abuse is strong. An American Humane study found that 68% domestic abuse survivors had their furry friends abused by a violent partner -- generally before their eyes, as a further means on the part of the perpetrator of asserting domination or meting out punishment. Children's strong attachment to their pets can also be used against them, with threats to pets used to keep kids silent about physical or sexual abuse.

In the kind of precarious, constantly on-edge way of life victims of domestic abuse are subjected to, pets often provide one loving, non-abusive constant that strengthens the bond that makes it ever harder to abandon that comfort animal. Since many domestic violence shelters have no-pet rules, as many as 40% of victims will opt to remain in an unsafe situation out of concern for their pets or livestock. Unfortunately, in a case last year, that delay cost a woman her life at the hand of her abusive partner.

Obviously, shelters have to deal with limited resources, and caring for women's pets is an extra burden on places that are often already stretched thin. And I think that a woman in a dangerous domestic violence situation should get out, even if it means leaving a pet behind; besides, she can't do that animal a jot of good if she gets murdered by her partner. But passing legislation that recognizes the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence, includes pets in protection orders, and increases funding to shelters can go a long way toward supporting women in the decision to get the help they need -- sacrificing Fido not required.

Women should also be aware that violence or threats against a pet can be a red flag to those who haven't suffered domestic abuse yet that they or their children are next on the list. Animal cruelty is not the pastime of a safe individual. It's important to take such violence against animals seriously and report it to the police, since this can help later if you need to build a case for a restraining order against a partner. Protect your pet, protect yourself.

Photo credit: law_keven