Pet bill advantages debated

Five or six women a year call the YWCA Daybreak program looking for
help out of an abusive relationship: one that affects not only them,
but also their pets.

“These women are saying they don’t know what to do with their pets
because their partner may retaliate against them for leaving,” said
Ginger L. Navickas, executive director of Daybreak. “But it’s very
hard to tell what the true number is. Many victims may not leave
because they feel it’s a foregone conclusion that no one would be able
to take care of their pet.”

Proposed legislation that awaits a hearing before the Legislature’s
Joint Committee on the Judiciary would include pets in temporary
restraining orders, give domestic violence victims custody of abused
family pets, and help victims find temporary shelter for their animals
as they leave abusive partners.

Animal advocates and domestic violence experts believe a law that
protects animals and gives domestic violence victims greater incentive
to flee abuse would be beneficial. They have seen abuse between humans
carry over to pets, and know that fear for a pet’s safety is an
obstacle to fleeing violent relationships.

Still, some advocates question whether a new law is the most efficient
use of resources in the fight against domestic violence, and wonder if
it could be used as a weapon in nasty breakups.

--
full story:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090424/NEWS/904240372/1116