Baldacci(Maine Gov)Signs Pet Protection Law

[SiobhanClancy]

AUGUSTA — Victims of domestic violence will be able to get their pets protected by court order, thanks to a first-in-the-nation law signed by Gov. John Baldacci on Friday. The law, sponsored by Rep. John Piotti, D-Unity, allows judges to include pets in protection-from-abuse orders. If a pet is owned by a person who is abused, or his or her children, there will be civil penalties if an abuser threatens to harm or harms the pet, said Anne Jordan, an attorney and member of the Animal Welfare Advisory Council.

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http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060401petprotect.shtml

I think this is wonderful. Evidently many abusers of people are also pet abusers,and in fact often abuse and threaten pets as part of their abuse pattern. It's great that the place in our families that pets occupy is being recognized in this way:)

[Princess Turandot]

1. It's good news..

There is an interesting article abt this on Andrew Vachss's website.Vachss is an attorney and child advocate who is also the author of an excellent but dark series of novels about a group of NY'ers who are outside of mainstream, fighting the bad guys as they see them.

The author of the paper queried 48 womens' shelters with the following:

Percent Respondents Answering "Yes" to Each Question

Do women who come into your shelter talk about incidents of pet abuse? 85.4%

Do children who come into your shelter talk about incidents of pet abuse? 63.0%

In your experience with shelters, have you observed the coexistence of domestic violence and pet abuse? 83.3%

Do you have any questions in your intake interview concerning pets? 27.1%

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I know one person whose very controlling spouse uses things like $$ to take a sick cat to the vet as part of his repetoire. x(

http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/ascione_1.html">Link

[IndyOp]

2. This is excellent news -

A woman who is considering a restraining order or departure to a shelter, and eventual separation/divorce has so many horrible issues with which to deal. Having your pet wind up with your abuser on top of that adds to the nightmare.

Also, imagine having to leave the pet at home to go to a shelter, knowing that the pet is very likely to be neglected/abused as a result of being the only target at home? I hadn't thought about it until now, but I wonder how many women hesitate to go to a shelter because they can't take their pet, can't find other options for it. I know she has to think of her life, and that of her children first, but still...

:cry: :grr: :cry: :grr: :cry: :grr: