Wakefield State Rep Files Domestic Abuse Bill to Include Animals - 02/01/2010
Wakefield State Rep Files Domestic Abuse Bill to Include Animals
GateHouse News Service, The Wakefield Observer (Feb. 1, 2010)
BOSTON--Wakefield Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, and State Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville, hosted a legislative briefing on the link between domestic violence and pets. Domestic violence and animal services professionals with expertise in the link between violence toward humans and pets shared their experiences in this field. The link between animal cruelty and human violence is well-documented both statistically and through stories of abuse. Like children, pets are often used as pawns in domestic violence.
One study found that up to 48 percent of battered women will not leave, or will return to a violent relationship due to fear of what might happen to the animal if left behind. Several bills pending in the Judiciary Committee, including Clark's bill, House Bill 1319, would allow pets to be included in temporary restraining orders issued in domestic violence cases and would address the problem of victims delaying leaving, or not leaving, a violent situation due to concern about what will happen to the family pet. |
