Anyone Can Be a Victim: Companion Animals at the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Poverty
A Talk by Amanda Molé LCSW
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Scope of the problem A 2007 study found that over half of women (52.5%) in domestic violence (DV) shelters reported threatened or actual violence to family pets, compared to 12.5% in the control group. Injury to pets included torture, pain, and death in 72.7% of cases. Overall, 22.8% of women delayed seeking emergency shelter out of concern for their pets. Further, as has been noted extensively in literature regarding DV, up to 99% of DV survivors, regardless of socioeconomic status, reported financial abuse in order to keep them dependent on their abuser. Many of these survivors become homeless if they choose to leave. Financial abuse across all socioeconomic levels as a result of DV has a direct result not only on survivors, but their pets as well.
Barriers to services DV survivors are often without income, marital assets, or sufficient employment during and after leaving an abusive relationship. Pet fees required by hotels, airlines, and potential new residences can be an insurmountable barrier, forcing a survivor to choose either to escape or to abandon a pet. This already painful choice becomes even more difficult when children’s safety is at stake. Additionally, most crisis shelters do not allow pets, leading some survivors to choose homelessness over abandoning a pet.
Micro interventions Currently, pet safety planning is not a requirement at most DV crisis centers. Advocates and caseworkers should screen for pets during a hotline call or upon intake and implement pet safety planning with the survivor. Some elements of pet safety planning include packing extra food, medicine, and veterinary records in an escape bag, as well as making sure a pet’s microchip records are up to date.
Mezzo/macro interventions Crisis shelters can lower or remove barriers to services by building on-site facilities for animals, such as small kennels, screen rooms, fenced areas, or separate buildings. Advocates can also develop community-based interventions involving other agencies, such as local rescues, to include access to short-term fostering, boarding, emergency vet care, microchipping, and safe surrender if necessary. Moreover, most states do not include pets in DV injunctions. Advocates and other stakeholders must bring the horror of DV and animals into the public eye, effecting change in district or state level policies to allow survivors to protect their beloved animals.
Gaps in services Even in places where safe havens and pet programs exist, survivors continue to encounter barriers. For example, some programs have breed restrictions, and will not shelter large dogs such as German shepherds, pit bulls, or rottweilers. Most programs require up-to-date vaccinations and veterinary records, which most survivors simply cannot afford due to poverty. Finally, most programs will only accept dogs and cats, and exclude reptiles, rodents, or birds.
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:
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Describe the relationship that exists between domestic violence and abuse of family pets;
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Identify practical interventions to assist domestic violence survivors experiencing poverty when it comes to concern for their companion animals;
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Recognize areas of social services that require additional services or improved access to services in the field of domestic violence.
References
Ascione, F.R., Weber, C.V., Thompson, T.M., Heath, J., Maruyama, M., & Hayashi, K. (2007). Battered Pets and Domestic Violence. Violence Against Women, 13 (4), 354-373.
Braster, J.L. (2017). PAWS Act: Protecting Domestic Violence Victims and Their Pets on a National Level. Nevada Lawyer, 16.
FTI Consulting. (2014). Silent Weapon: Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse. http://purplepurse.com/get-the-facts/about-the-allstate-foundation/financial-abuse-survey
Gilbreath, T. (2008). Where’s Fido: Pets are Missing In Domestic Violence Shelters and Stalking Laws. Journal of Animal Law, 4 (1).
Heminway, J.M. & Lenaghan, P.G. (2017). Safe Haven Conundrum: The Use of Special Bailments To Keep Pets Out of Violent Households. Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy, 12 (1), 79-150.