October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
In recognition of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, we have put together a list of resources for those needing assistance and those looking for more information so they may better serve humans and animals in need.
Animal abuse is often the first point of intervention in cases of human violence- including child abuse, spousal and domestic violence, elder abuse and so on. When animals are abused, humans are at risk and vice versa. This is commonly known as “the Link”.
Lila Miller, DVM ’77
Understanding “The Link”
“What is the link” (National Link Coalition): http://nationallinkcoalition.org/what-is-the-link
“Pets and Domestic Violence” (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence- NCADV): https://www.sheriffs.org/publications/NCADV-Pets-DV.pdf
“Help Domestic Violence Victims Endangered by Pet Housing Challenges” (ASPCA blog post): https://www.aspca.org/blog/help-domestic-violence-victims-endangered-pet-housing-challenges
Resources on Services
Animal Welfare Institute
- Safe Havens: Search for safe havens for pets of domestic violence victims and other agencies that either provide sheltering services for the companion animals or have a relationship with an entity that does, or provide referrals to such facilities: https://awionline.org/safe-havens
Red Rover:
- Emergency Boarding Grants – Boarding help for pet owners hospitalized with COVID-19. https://redrover.org/relief/emergency-boarding-grants/
- Urgent Care Grants – Financial assistance for lifesaving care https://redrover.org/relief/urgent-care-grants/
- Domestic Violence Safe Escape Grants – Helping families and pets to safety https://redrover.org/relief/dv-safe-escape-grants/
- Domestic Violence Safe Housing Grants – Helping shelters provide a safe space for pets https://redrover.org/dv-safe-housing-grants/
- Safe Place for Pets: Find help now! SafePlaceForPets.org is a resource listing pet-friendly domestic violence shelters, as well as organizations that can look after the pets of domestic violence survivors when pets cannot stay at the domestic violence shelter.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence.
Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages
Informative Resources
Red Rover
Animal Welfare Institute
- Facts and Myths About Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: https://www.awionline.org/content/facts-and-myths-about-domestic-violence-and-animal-abuse
Humane Society of the United States
- Animal cruelty and human violence FAQ: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-human-violence-faq
Animal Legal Defense Fund
The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans: https://aldf.org/article/the-link-between-cruelty-to-animals-and-violence-toward-humans-2/
McKinney’s Family Court Act § 842
New York State includes pets in protective orders. This New York law pertains to the issuance of protection orders. In July of 2006, the amendment that allows companion animals owned by the petitioner of the order or a minor child residing in the household to be included in the order was signed into law. The law specifically allows a court to order the respondent to refrain from intentionally injuring or killing, without justification, any companion animal the respondent knows to be owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the petitioner or a minor child residing in the household. Click here for a list of states that do the same: https://www.animallaw.info/article/domestic-violence-and-pets-list-states-include-pets-protection-orders
