Law to protect family pets against domestic violence
From "The Trentonian, Monday, January 23
Domestic violence restraining orders are no longer just for people in New Jersey, as a new law allows judges to issue the protection from abuse for family pets as well.
"For many pet owners, a pet is a member of their family. To harm or even kill a defenseless pet simply to get back at a partner is cowardly and cruel," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D, Mercer, co-sponsor of the law.
The law, crafted after a similar measure in Maine, authorizes the courts to issue orders protecting animals in situations where a person abuses or threatens to abuse an animal as part of a domestic dispute. Animals were not directly covered in the state's old domestic violence law, said Eva Loayza, spokesperson for the Assembly Democrats.
The law signed last week by Gov. Chris Christie will not only protect the animals involved in domestic violence cases, but will also have a direct impact on protecting the people who are targeted, said Kathleen Schatzmann, director of the Humane Society of the United States, New Jersey chapter.
Other co-sponsors of the Domestic Violence Pet Protection Law include Sen. Tom Kean Jr., Sen. Jeff Van Drew, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk.
According to the American Humane Association, 71 percent of pet-owning women entering women's shelters reported their batterers had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control their victims.
"We applaud the legislature and Gov. Christie for recognizing the link between animal cruelty and human violence and for taking steps to protect animals and their families. This sends a strong message to abusers that they cannot victimize the creatures who comfort us," Schatzmann said.
Legislators, she said, are realizing that animals are often viewed as beloved family members, and domestic violence abusers often target pets to intimidate or control their spouse or partner.
Under the new law, the court may issue an order prohibiting a defendant charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence, who is released on bail or personal recognizance, from having any contact with any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by either party, or a minor child living in the household.
It also lets the court mandate who will keep the animal.
"We've heard so many stories of pets being abused or even killed as retaliation against a partner when a relationship goes sour," said Wagner. "Often times it's done without thinking as an attempt to hurt the other partner, but whether it's intentional or not, animals should not have to suffer. This is a humane measure designed to protect innocent pets from being the victim of a domestic dispute."
