Animal Domestic Abuse: The Silent Victims
Animals Suffer from Domestic Abuse, Too
Most shelters will not allow you to bring your pets with you when you leave an abusive partner, that is until now.
Opening soon in Las Vegas, Nevada is a place called Noah's Animal House. A place where people who need to go to domestic violence shelters can also bring the family pet if they feel the pet will come to harm if they leave. The Shade Tree Shelter is adding a place where resident's who stay at the shelter can temporarily house their family pets as well.
There will be veterinary services available and foster parents willing to take special pets such as farm animals that need more space.
The effects of pet abuse on children
Children who live in abusive families and also see pet abuse suffer even more trauma as a result of seeing their pets injured, or threatened with the possibility of injury.
Many times the abuser will threaten, harm or even kill a family pet in order to punish or control a child. A child of abuse is twice as likely to grow up to become an abuser him or herself.
The effects on pets
Many pets who are abused will be very timid when the abuser gets near them, sometimes urinating on themselves out of fear, which will make the abuser angry and start the pattern of abuse all over again. Some animals will get aggressive after being abused.
From the HSUS - Family Violence and Animal Cruelty:
"My first client came in very apologetic and said, 'I have to go back home.' I tried to tell her
she didn't,... she said, 'no, you don't understand.' She pulled out a picture that her mother
forwarded her that her husband had sent...They were pictures of him chopping off the ears of
her dog with gardening shears.
'I have to go home...If I want to save my dog's life and the lives of the other animals...I have to go
home...' We never heard from her again."
-Wisconsin Domestic Violence Center Safe Haven For Pets - HSUS
Many abused people put off leaving their abuser because they are afraid of what will happen to their pets, and many times pets are harmed when the abused partner leaves.
85% of battered women who go to domestic violence shelters report that their is animal abuse in their home. Being that only a small number of women actually seek help from domestic violence shelters, the number of animals actually being abused is very high.
Published by Mary Kirkland
Mary is originally from Redondo Beach, California and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and daughter. Mary has had extensive experience with small animal care as well as rescuing and re-homing.... View profile
- My Daughter's Haunting Eyes - Life Lessons from Domestic ViolenceTrue life excerpt of how a haunting memory serves to shift a victim of domestic violence into a survivor. Provides practical tips for empowerment.
- Domestic Violence is More of a Societal than a Gender IssueThe main purpose of this article is let people know the real story about the problem of domestic violence within our society.
- Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse and Their EffectsDomestic abuse occurs in men and women alike. However, domestic abuse is much higher in women than in men.
- Comprehensive Plan for Domestic Violence Prevention UnveiledThe NDVH made public its plan to significantly reduce domestic abuse in America.
- Animal Cruelty vs Domestic Violence: Which is More Important in Our SocietyAn article regarding animal cruelty and domestic violence
- Rhode Island Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence: Educating Society is Imperative in Helping Victims of Abuse
- Domestic Violence: Empowering the Victim
- Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Opens in New Jersey Middle S...
- Broken Smile - Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Impacts the Workplace
- The Domestic Violence Double Standard
- A new facility is being opened in order to help abused pets.
- Abuse effects the entire family.
35 Comments
Post a Commentanimal abuse is not kool any1 who does it doesnt deserve a pet or a child in that case.they deserve 2 die them self!!!!!
Las Vegas is so hard on homeless people (many homeless become so through abuse) that it is heartwarming to hear they are pioneering this very caring approach to helping save pets as well as people.
This article is so true and heartbreaking.
Thank you all for reading and commenting. Animal abuse just sickens me as much as any abuse, but to do it do an animal or defenseless child is the lowest of the low.
Good article, thanks!
I just hate people who abuse other people or pets (or any wildlife for that matter).
Thank you Jean, I know reading about animal abuse is terrible but I think if more people know it's going on then maybe something can be done about it.
Abusing animals or people are no different in my book and are really inner-connected. I hope more towns follow suit with the Noah's Animal House. Good article but now I have to go watch something heartwarming on TV to get rid of the image of the garden shears on the dog's ears.
Thank you all for your comments, I'm glad you liked the article.
Powerful, insightful, painful... Thanks for this read.