Orders of protection for pets too

New York lawmakers attempting to protect pets from domestic violence have passed a bill prohibiting the intentional injuring or killing of a companion's animals. The bill, if signed by the governor, will extend court-issued orders of protection to cover the pets of victims of domestic violence too.
Nearly ninety-five percent of victims of domestic violence are women. In 2005, there were 3,142 civil orders of protection issued and ten family-related homicides in Queens.
Experts in the field of domestic violence report that men who abuse their spouses or girlfriends have been known to threaten to harm, assault, and even kill their animals as a form of abuse and control. Abusers trying to establish dominance in a household will use a pet as an example of the possible harm that their spouse or partner will suffer, if the abuser is not obeyed. Abusers also may threaten to harm the household pet in order to keep children from telling other adults and those in authority.
According to the College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Public Engagement, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. In 85 percent of homes where women or children are being abused, a pet also suffers. Sixty percent of the women who are victims of domestic violence have had a pet killed at the hand of their abusers and 40 percent of women have delayed leaving their abuser to go to a shelter because they feared for their pet's safety.
Urging the governor to sign the bill, Assemblyman William Scarborough said, &#8220Pets are cherished members of the family for many New Yorkers. Since court orders provide protections for spouses, significant others and children in domestic violence cases, they should also protect those who cannot speak or stand up for themselves.”