That a man shot two pet dogs and killed himself after a domestic dispute with his former girlfriend in Phoenix Saturday is another example of how animals can become a component in the domestic violence arena.
“In the United States last year, we had over one million animals that were either hurt or killed due to domestic violence,’’ said Laura Escapule, a Domestic Violence Advocate with the Mohave County Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness program. “Usually if there’s some type of abuse in the home, there’s usually a direct correlation of abuse of a pet as well.”
Escapule said pets sometimes simply suffer the ill effects and stress of volatility in the home. Other times, she said, pets are physically harmed or used as threats for leverage, just like children sometimes.
“A lot of times an individual will not leave their abuser because they’re scared of what may occur to their pets, so they stay in an abusive relationship,” Escapule said. She added that it’s important for victims to think of pets and animals when contemplating exiting a toxic environment.
“We talk about safety plans for individuals who are in an abusive relationship. Include your animals in that safety plan. Come up with a safe location if you have to leave. There are shelters that take animals. Or come up with a family or friend who can maybe care for your animal,” Escapule said. “A lot of orders of protection now include pets as well. So, when someone contemplates an order of protection for domestic violence and is trying to get away from their abuser, they can include their animals in that order.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Escapule said local PetSmart and Petco stores are participating in the public information campaign.
