October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Will you be wearing a purple ribbon to raise awareness, celebrate recovering survivors, and grieve the victims who were unable to escape violently abusive situations?
Domestic violence victims are diverse—men, women, children, and animals—are battered, maimed, or murdered by their abusers. Because animal companions are often viewed as family members serving as emotional support to victims of domestic violence, abusers may threaten or batter a beloved pet in order to control a victim.
“Up to 40% of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers out of concern for what will happen to their pets when they are forced to leave them behind.”[1]
Help for Pets in Crisis Situations
During the past few years, noteworthy laws have been passed to better protect the pets of domestic violence victims. In December of 2018, the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act was signed into law to help shelters and law enforcement more effectively assist domestic abuse victims with pets.
Recently, in July of 2020, Florida joined more than 30 states allowing the inclusion of pets in orders of protection related to domestic violence. Hopefully, this trend will continue until all 50 states provide this vital legal protection.
Presently, there are approximately 1400 safe havens offering domestic violence victims with direct support or information regarding housing options for their pets. Timed with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Animal Welfare Institute launched a new and improved Safe Havens website. The site provides updated listings of sheltering services for the animals of domestic violence victims and alternative housing referrals.
For information about sheltering resources and abuse reporting, contact:
- The American Humane Association at 303-792-9900
- National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
- To report suspected animal abuse in a household within your region visit: https://www.aspca.org/take-action/report-animal-cruelty
- For information on animal shelters/foster programs:
https://www.npdvv.org/animal-shelter-foster-program
[1] Arkow,P. (1994). Animal abuse and domestic violence: Intake statistics tell a sad story. Latham Letter. 15(2).17