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The cover story (Jan 16, 2009) of the popular "Fetch!" section of the Albuquerque Journal recently addressed the connection between family violence and animal abuse in the home in "To Protect & Save: Pets, often caught in domestic violence situations, need someone to rescue them." An abuser often will use the victim's feelings for a family's animal against her, or him, and often follows through with doing something most people would consider unthinkable to an animal helplessly caught in a crossfire.
For the article, Fetch! Editor Isabel Sanchez interviewed APNM Cruelty Complaints Administrator Sherry Mangold, who also manages APNM's CARE network (Companion Animal Rescue Effort), about the help available to domestic violence victims who have animals. CARE is a resource for helping abuse victims get their animals to a safe shelter as they prepare to save themselves. Most domestic violence shelters for women and children do not accept animals. The CARE network consists of numerous temporary safe havens for animals of domestic violence victims.
In the current legislative session, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King is pushing for amendments to the Family Violence Act through House Bill 434. Sponsored by Rep. Rhonda King, HB434 will ensure that animals can be included in temporary Domestic Protection Orders. Passing this legislation will help victims of domestic violence who leave, or are escorted from, their homes to seek safe shelter, by mandating that law enforcement or animal control officers remove companion animals from the home at the same time for their protection. The animals will be moved to a safe shelter and cared for until the victim is able to reclaim the animals, or determine where they should be placed.
Read the full Albuquerque Journal article, "TO PROTECT & SAVE...."
(Posted with permission of the Albuquerque Publishing Company)
Read the text of HB434, DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTION ORDER ENFORCEMENT.
http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/09%20Regular/bills/house/HB0434.pdf
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