Battered Women/Battered Pets...we've come a long way...

"In the context of domestic violence, pets can be used by batterers to intimidate or control family members.  In one study of battered women, 49 percent of the respondents reported that animal abuse had occurred 'often' during the previous 12 months, and included punching, hitting, choking, drowning, shooting, stabbing and throwing the animal against a wall or down the stairs. 

 

Concern for the safety of their pets can be a barrier to women leaving abusive relationships.  To remove that obstacle, an increasing number of shelters are partnering with animal shelters, breed rescue groups, or veterinarians to provide foster care for the animal victims of domestic violence.  The American Humane Association reports that there are more than 160 of these 'safe haven' programs for pets around the United States...PAWS.  Pets And Womens Shelters."

 

From ~ Pet Sitting,  July/August 2008

 

"The door which the battered wife is trapped is the door to the family home."  

 

Del Martin,  Battered Wives, 1977

 

"There is only one person who can stop domestic violence...the man who does it!"

 

Widdle

 

You are so on target with this one,.  Research shows that anyone who will mistreat an animal is likely  to also batter people.  I would not trust a person who can be mean to an animal.  These are sick individuals with serious personality problems. 

I do disagree with one of the statements at the bottom of your post, however.  That is that domestic violence can only be stopped by the men who commit it.  Actually the only way to stop domestic violence is to empower women so that they stop it in its tracks.  And even my statement is incomplete also.  Domestic violence has to be stopped in childhood usually.  Kids raised in homes with a batterer are ones who will grow up to do the same.  Just like kids who are abused will more often become abusers.  That is why it is up to everyone to help women ( and men, because not all who are abused are female)  to run like hades when the first sign of violence occurs.  Okay I will crawl down off my soapbox if you will give me a hand. lol

When each of us takes on a pet, we take on the moral responsibility of that animal's well-being. It is good to see the increasing support for the relationships developed between people and their pets. During the recent evacuation of New Orleans as Gustav approached, provisions were made for evacuating pets along with their owners. This is a change from the Katrina situation when people were forced to leave their furry and feathered loves ones behind, which just added to the devastation.

 

Thank you for telling us about PAWS.

Aashlee:

This is a change from the Katrina situation when people were forced to leave their furry and feathered loves ones behind, which just added to the devastation.

Sadly I remember that Aashlee and I can remember at least one thread here asking others if they could leave a furbaby behind.

Isn't it horrid the things people will do to an innocent animal, just to get back at someone else?

Maddie is the sweetest thing, I can't imagine us leaving her behind or anyone causing her pain out of spite...we all need to take this personally. 

I think many did, how else would they have made that change?

I think this is a very good move.  I'm sure many battered women would be unwilling to leave if their animal companion could not come along.  She may have spent long nights crying into Fluffy's fur, huddling together for shared comfort against their shared fear.  She may have been isolated from family and feel that the pet has been her only real friend.