Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
Mahatma Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." If a person hurts an animal, he or she may harm a person as well.
Children living in violent homes are more likely to be victims of abuse. The animals that live in those homes are also more likely to be victims of abuse. There is an alarming connection between family violence and animal cruelty.
"One study found that animals were abused in 88 percent of the homes in which a child was abused. Another study found that 83 percent of families reported for animal abuse also had children at high risk of abuse or neglect." *www.aspca.org
"Batterers who also abuse their pets are both more controlling and use more dangerous forms of violence (sexual violence, marital rape, emotional violence and stalking) than batterers who do not." (Simmons & Lehmann, 2007)
Recognizing the need to protect domestic violence victims and their pets from further harm/abuse, the Battered Women's Shelter advocates for safe sheltering of victims as well as their pets. We work with rescue organizations as well as organizations that are working to prevent animal abuse and neglect, to assist with fostering/sheltering pets, whenever possible.
For more information on the link between domestic violence and animal abuse, please visit:http://www.americanhumane.org/
Here’s what you can do
- Plan ahead; think of a safe place to keep yourself and your pets from being a target.
- Keep your pets up to date on vaccinations and bring medical and veterinary records with you.
- Bring your pet's medication and an information sheet about your pet for the temporary caretaker.
- Be prepared to prove pet ownership by providing an animal license, proof of vaccinations and veterinary receipts.
Put together a check list of the above mentioned important documents and keep these documents in a place where you can get to them quickly if necessary.