Domestic Violence and Your Pet

by Jolanta Benal

It goes without saying that everyone has the right to be safe at home. Sadly, many people live with a violent partner, parent, or roommate. Those who terrorize their human companions often hurt companion animals as well, or threaten them as leverage to keep the human victim from leaving. This week, the links between human and animal abuse, and where you can get help.

Abusers Hurt Animals as Well as People

The American Humane Association, whose mission is to protect both children and animals, offers statistics that suggest the extent to which humans and their companion animals suffer abuse together. The information in this podcast comes largely from their website and from that of the Humane Society of the United States.

Surveys of battered women have found around 70 percent of them reporting that their pets were also victimized. In one survey, the abuser hurt the animals in the women’s presence 87 percent of the time, and in front of the children 75 percent of the time. Many women stay with their abusers because they can’t protect pets or other animals if they leave. Some report living in their cars for months on end rather than leave their animals behind. Perhaps the saddest statistic of all reflects the fact that kids emulate the behavior they see at home: a third of the women in one survey said their children had hurt or killed animals, too.[i]

The Tip of the Iceberg?

How accurate are these figures? In my research, I found that many of the relevant studies are over a decade old, and by their nature surveys can’t reflect a random sample of domestic violence victims. I haven’t found any studies of male victims. Those who stay at home, never daring to leave or say a word to anybody --well, we can’t know what’s going on for them. It seems reasonable to think that victims who don’t leave may be even worse off than those who do.

What to Do If You Are a Victim of Domestic Abuse

If you’re a victim of domestic abuse and you’re afraid to leave because you don’t think you can protect your pets, have hope. Links and phone numbers for the resources I suggest appear in the transcript for this episode, at dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com.

How to Find a Refuge for Your Pet

More and more domestic violence shelters allow victims to bring their companion animals. The Humane Society of the United States lists these shelters on its website. If there’s no such shelter near you, contact your local animal control or municipal animal shelter for help. They may be able to foster your pet while you get on your feet again. Ask your veterinarian, too. Maybe he knows of a low-cost boarding option. If you have a long-standing relationship with him, he might be willing to defer or cut his own boarding fee. Remember, vets become vets because they care about animals’ welfare. Your vet doesn’t want to see your companion tortured any more than you do.

Best of all is to find a friend willing to care for your pet temporarily. You’ll have the comfort of knowing that your companion is in the care of someone personally attached to her, and a stay with a familiar person will be less upsetting for your pet.

Finally, consider relinquishing your pet to an animal shelter. Let’s not pretend that this is a happy option. Especially in the current economic climate, local shelters may be overcrowded and underfunded and consequently have high euthanasia rates. Or your pet may have medical or behavioral problems that make him unadoptable. I love my dogs. I would rather have them humanely euthanized than living with someone who terrified and hurt them.

What to Do If You Know Someone Who’s Being Abused and Has a Pet

If you have a friend who is being abused at home and is afraid to leave because the abuser may hurt her pet, can you offer that pet a temporary home? Who knows--reluctance to ask for such a big favor may be the biggest obstacle keeping your friend in a bad situation.

Getting Ready to Leave

Whether you’ll be bringing your pet with you or sheltering him elsewhere, plan in advance as much as possible. Any boarding situation will require up-to-date vaccinations. If you have a safe place to stash pet supplies, try to include a favorite toy and bed as well as the basics of leash, carrier, medication, bowl, and food. Ideally, your pet’s ID tag should bear the phone number of a trusted friend or vet--not the phone number or address of the place where you’ve taken refuge.

Keep Your Pet’s Whereabouts Secret

According to the Humane Society of the United States, it’s uncommon for abusers to go looking for the pet--uncommon, but not unheard of. Be sure the person or agency taking care of your pet knows not to disclose his whereabouts. If your abuser is especially dangerous, it might be smart not to visit your pet for a while.

Have Proof of Ownership

In case the abuser tries to claim the pet is his so as to use him as leverage over you, it’s important to have as much proof as possible of your legal ownership. Vet records, a license, and a microchip registered to you can all help establish that you are the rightful guardian of your companion animal. That can be crucial if you had to flee home in an emergency and leave your pet behind. You may be able to reclaim him with the help of a law enforcement officer if you have proof that he belongs to you.

This episode is heartbreaking, isn’t it? Know that there are signs of hope. More and more vets, social service agencies, and law enforcement officers are aware of the links between animal abuse and human abuse. One study found that 70 percent of those who abused animals had also committed other crimes. In protecting people, we protect animals, and in protecting animals, we protect people too. Spread the word.

 I welcome your comments and questions – call 206-600-5661, or email dogtrainer@quickanddirtytips.com. And you can talk to me on Facebook, where, amazingly enough, I’m The Dog Trainer. That’s all till next week. Thanks for listening.