Domestic violence often touches animals as well
October 9th, 2009 by admin
On Tuesday, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty declared the month of October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” The proclamation included this statement, “the link between domestic violence and animal abuse is well documented, and battered women are often unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets.” The proclamation also noted that, nationwide, “nearly 1 million animals a year are abused or killed in connection with domestic violence.”
This year Harbor House, Orange County’s state-certified domestic violence facility, is partnering with Orange County Animal Services and other organizations to raise awareness about the relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence. According to Harbor House, 80% of women in shelters report having a companion animal injured or killed by their batterer. 48% of human victims in Central Florida report that they delay leaving an abusive relationship for fear their pets will be harmed.
Thankfully, law enforcement and social service agencies have recognized that animal abuse is often part of violence within the home. Many domestic violence shelters in Florida have partnered with animal shelters to provide temporary housing for companion animals. A smaller number of shelters in Florida provide on-site housing for pets. (click here or here for directories of programs in Florida).
If you do not see a program listed in your area, we recommend the following resources to learn how to implement a temporary sheltering program for animals of family violence victims:
- “Starting a Safe Havens for Animals Program”
- “Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Pilot Program Startup Guide“