New law protects pets of domestic abuse victims
By Jorge Rodas - (WBAY) - Domestic abuse shelters say there’s a reason some women aren’t leaving abusive relationships that might surprise you.
The Bay Area Humane Society is full of pets waiting for a new home, but unlike them, there are some pets that enter the building to hide.
“If we can give a person another out, another chance to be able to leave this abusive relationship because they know that we can take care of their pet, it’s great,” says BAHS Marketing and Event Manager Lori Nachtwey.
The shelter partners with Green Bay domestic abuse shelter Golden House. BAHS offers a program to clients at Golden House who have pets they want to protect from their abuser. BAHS houses the pets.
Golden House Executive Director Karen Michaels says providing that option to a domestic violence victim can save a life.
“Abusers will use pets to intimidate, threaten, and hurt victims,” says Michaels.
Sharon Hensen is Senior Humane Animal Control Office for the City of Green Bay. She once surveyed victims at Golden House to see how many had stayed in an abusive relationship to protect their pets.
“85% of the women that were there had pets and the animals had been abused before they had been or with them and they couldn’t take them with them,” says Hensen.
A law passed by the Wisconsin Legislature can help victims better protect their pets by allowing the animals to be included in restraining orders. Judges will have the power to create provisions in the order that forbid the abuser from hurting, mistreating, hiding, disposing, removing, or damaging the household pet. Judged could also order the victim is allowed to retrieve the pet from the alleged abuser.
“Now they can get a restraining order, add the pet to the restraining order, and have protection,” says Nachtwey.
“This is extremely helpful,” says Michaels. “It will help us get restraining orders for people. It will help people leave really unsafe situations.”
The bill passed the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate and is now awaiting Governor Scott Walker’s approval.