Toward Federal Protection for All Domestic Violence Victims
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Lisa Lunghofer, Animals and Society Institute (ASI)
November 2014

The PAWS Act would expand federal law to include protections for pets of domestic violence victims and establishes a federal grant program to help victims to secure emergency and transitional shelter for their companion animals.ext

An important step began this summer toward including pets in federal domestic violence legislation. On July 30, Reps. Katherine Clark (D-Ma.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl.) introduced the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (HR 5267). The legislation intends to help domestic violence victims who delay leaving abusive situations because of concern for their pets. In September the bill was assigned to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

'Sadly, domestic violence is something one in every four women will experience at some point in their lives,' said Clark. 'This isolating experience is made even worse for those who fear for the safety of their pet. Most pet lovers, including me, consider their beloved dog or cat a part of their family. No one should have to make the choice between leaving an abusive situation and ensuring their pet's safety, and I am grateful for the partnerships we've formed between organizations working to end both domestic violence and animal abuse. Together, we crafted a bill that will help save lives.'

The legislation would expand federal law to include protections for pets of domestic violence victims and establishes a federal grant program to help victims to secure emergency and transitional shelter for their companion animals. The PAWS Act also encourages states to include animals in domestic violence protection orders. The bill has the potential to help countless victims and their beloved companion animals to escape abuse together.

Visit ASI's site for updates on the bill's progress.

---

Return to Animal Rights Articles