Domestic Violence: Finding Safety for You and Your Pet

If you are experiencing domestic violence (DV) and are reluctant to get out of the dangerous situation you’re in because you fear for the safety of your pet, you’re definitely not alone. Nearly all respondents to a survey on the matter report that the ability to keep their pets with them is a central factor in whether they would attempt to find shelter elsewhere.  It’s a serious issue, as many victims of domestic violence rely on their pets for comfort in daily life. Leaving a beloved pet behind with a menacing and violent person has doubly troubling outcomes for victims:

• They worry about the possibility of their abuser taking out frustrations on the pet;
• They no longer have the safe and loving companionship of their pet.

Without question, pets are an important part of a family, and when shelters fail to accommodate victims of abuse who wish to keep their pets, many people simply stick with their abusers.

Statistics Worth Knowing 

Several important findings related to DV survivors and their pets include:

• 91 percent of survivors say their pet provided both emotional support and/or physical protection, improving their chances of healing and survival.
• One-third of survivors report that their kids were conscious of threats and abuse toward family pets.
• Three-fourths of survivors say their pet’s behavior had changed due to fear and abuse.
• Over 70 percent of survivors did not realize that many DV shelters do not accept pets.

Reasons to Overcome Logistical Problems 

Unfortunately, the majority of shelters simply cannot currently accommodate pets. In fact, four out of five shelters nationwide will not allow DV survivors to bring along a beloved pet. That needs to change, for multiple reasons:

• About seven in ten DV survivors say they have a pet, but about half of them put off leaving an abuser, or choose to live in a car, rather than leave that pet.
• Because over 70 percent of those in shelters say that their abuser threatened, harmed, or actually killed a pet, we know there is a clear link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of people. It is well-known that abusers manipulate their victims by preying on the love of a pet.
• Shelter staff and DV survivors report having a stronger connection and deeper trust when survivors are allowed to bring their pets with them. Compassion, empathy, and trust are all central to healing, and pets can play an important role here.
• Physiological improvements related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and anxiety, occur in DV survivors whose pets are permitted to be a part of their recovery. Feel good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine are pumped up as survivors and their pets heal together.

You Deserve to be Safe 

The compassionate, dedicated Miami domestic violence attorneys at the Law Office of Julia Kefalinos understand the difficulties of your situation, and are here to help. There are some– though not many– places in Florida that accept pets.  You deserve to be safe, that’s the bottom line. To discuss your options, schedule a confidential consultation in our Miami office today.