Legislation to protect victims of abuse and their pets was reintroduced by U.S Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and U.S. Sen Dean Heller (R-Nev.) on Tuesday.
The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act is bicameral, bipartisan legislation that would protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by violence toward their pets.
"Abusers often exploit the emotional attachment victims have with their pets, leaving victims of domestic violence stuck choosing between their own safety or leaving a beloved pet in harm’s way," Peters said.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said a study in Wisconsin found that 68 percent of domestic violence survivors have reported their abuser was also violent toward their pets. Despite this, the ASPCA said pets are only accepted at three percent of domestic violence shelters across the U.S.
"No victim of this crime should have to choose between their safety and the safety of their pet," Heller said.
According to another study, 25 percent of domestic violence survivors have returned to an abusive partner because they were concerned for their animals. Another study done in 2007 reported as many as one-third of abuse survivors delayed leaving an abuser for an average of two years because they were worried about the safety of their pets.
"Abusers frequently target their victims’ pets, which can cause victims to delay leaving dangerous situations, incur costly veterinary bills for their pets’ injuries and endure additional trauma from seeing their much-loved animals tortured," said Kim Gandy, president and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
The PAWS act would expand federal domestic violence protections to include violence and threats against the pets of victims. It would also provide grant funding to programs that offer housing assistance and shelter to victims with pets. The act would also require restitution in domestic and stalking offenses to include costs of veterinary bills for the physical care of the victim’s pets that may have been incurred.
"We must have a national policy that safeguards the pets of abuse victims, and recognizes that domestic violence impacts all members of the family -- including the four-legged," said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) are leading the reintroduction of the PAWS act in the U.S. House.
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