CARE is a New Mexico network of safe havens for the animals of domestic violence victims. CARE empowers individuals to leave abusive home environments by providing temporary housing for the victims’ animals. Safe havens can be provided for livestock and exotics as well as companion animals. These temporary homes are provided by existing government agencies as well as private agencies, veterinary clinics, groomers, boarding kennels and private individuals. Many of the safe havens within the New Mexico network are free of charge, others charge a nominal fee and some operate on a sliding scale.
Animal Protection of New Mexico’s CARE Director can provide information about the CARE program as well as facts and statistics concerning the link between domestic violence and animal abuse. This information is available to law enforcement officials, service providers and concerned citizens.
Animal cruelty, child abuse, spousal abuse and rape are about power and control. Aggression begins with a real or a perceived injustice. The person feels powerless. He makes himself feel better by dominating an animal or another person. In order to feel powerful, the perpetrator has to always win; he will choose a victim least likely or least capable of retaliating. Animal cruelty is frequently used to threaten, intimidate or coerce a victim. Killing or injuring animals to exercise control over someone is a form of emotional abuse and highly indicative of the perpetrator’s ability to do the same to a human victim.
Formal studies have undeniably linked animal abuse with human violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identifies animal cruelty as one of a cluster of juvenile behaviors associated with increasingly violent behavior. The American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorders. Sociologists report that children who abuse animals or witness animal abuse in their youth are likely to develop future criminal and violent behavior.
Ask for help.
http://www.cyfd.org/domviolence.htm
Domestic Violence Shelter Referral Hotline: 1-800-773-3645
Albuquerque Animal Services: 311
Children, Youth and Families Department (Albuquerque) 505-841-6100
Children, Youth and Families Department (throughout New Mexico) 1-800-797-3260
Let your service provider know you have concerns for your animal(s). You do not have to leave your animal behind. The service provider has access to the CARE network and will procure a confidential, safe place for your animal until you are able to relocate.
Establish ownership of your animal. Obtain a license, vaccination records, and/or veterinary receipts in your name. Keep photographs depicting you with your animal. This helps to establish your legal claim to the animal.
- If you know of a domestic violence victim with animals, please print a copy of the CARE brochure for her/him. Help the victim contact a service provider.
- If you witness abuse of an animal, document what you have seen and report the incident to an animal control officer. In New Mexico intentional animal abuse can be a felony offense.
- If you would like to become part of the CARE network of safe haven providers, contact the CARE Director at Animal Protection of New Mexico.
If you would like a copy of the CONFIDENTIAL Network of Safe Havens, please contact the CARE Program Director. This information is only available to bona fide domestic violence service providers.
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