Link Between Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence Grows Clearer Every Day

ASPCA Media Contact

NEW YORK, March 21, 2007—

WHAT:  Studies have shown that an estimated 25 to 40 percent of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock, thus perpetuating the abusive situations they live in. Consider the following statistics:

- 83 percent of directors of the largest shelters for battered women in the U.S. indicated women entering the shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family;
- 71 percent of pet-owning women in shelters reported that a pet had been threatened, injured or killed by their abuser; and
- 49 percent of pet-owning victims who fled their abusers and sought shelter continued to worry about their animals after entering shelter.

HOW:  California S.B. 353, authored by State Senator Sheila Kuehl, would address these issues by amending section 6320 of the Family Code to include pets in domestic violence protection orders, an important step in preventing abusers from using pets to threaten their victims. The ASPCA applauds Senator Kuehl’s foresight in introducing this bill; if passed, California will join the states of Maine, Vermont and New York in leading the charge against domestic violence.

WHO:  Interviews may be arranged with either or all of the following:

- California State Senator Sheila J. Kuehl (located in Sacramento, Calif.); 
- Jill Buckley, ASPCA Senior Director for Legislative Services, Western Region (located in Pismo Beach, Calif.);
- Yvonne Stromer, victim of domestic violence (available after April 1, located in San Diego, Calif.).

HOW:  Please contact Shonali Burke at (212) 876-7700 x 4565 (office); (917) 697-6989 (cell); or shonalib@aspca.org; or Inga Fairclough at (212) 876-7700 x 4564 (office); (347) 578-2243  (cell) or ingaf@aspca.org.

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Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) was the first humane organization established in the Western Hemisphere and today has one million supporters. The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides national leadership in anti-cruelty, animal behavior, humane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital and adoption facility. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal
Precinct” on Animal Planet. Visit www.aspca.org for more information.