Court Moves to Approve Restraining Orders for Pets

Tuesday, 19 June 2007

Seeking to take a frequently used weapon away from domestic abusers, state lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Phil Bredesen that would extend court orders of protection to family pets. Orders of protection, which can be obtained by going to court, prohibit potential abusers from contacting or being within a certain distance of someone. Violators can be arrested. Abusers often threaten, torture or kill pets to terrorize their human victims, and the proposed law is long overdue, say women's rights and animal protection advocates. "It really is an important aspect of domestic violence because the pets are often abused," said Robyn Minton, who oversees domestic violence services for YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. "It sends a message to the victim that what I'm doing to this pet, I can do to you." "And the batterer knows that the victim loves the pet, and it's a way to hurt the partner without physically putting their hands on them," she said. If the bill becomes law, adults would be able to obtain court orders of protection for themselves that would also extend to any pets. The order would prevent visitation or custody by the potential abuser.

 

--------