WALKER, Mich. — U.S. Senator Gary Peters is highlighting the need for continued federal support of a program that gives funding to shelters that care for domestic violence survivors and their pets.
Sen. Peters toured the Humane Society of West Michigan in Walker Friday afternoon to meet with leaders there and the YWCA of West Central Michigan.
Peters previously authored the bipartisan Protecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) Act in 2018 which provides federal funding for facilities that help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence, along with their pets.
Sen. Peters (D-MI) and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) are leading the effort to extend federal support for the program by reauthorizing $3 million annually for the next five years.
Research has found that abusers often manipulate or intimidate victims by threatening or harming their pets. Many domestic violence survivors stay with their abusers due to fears over what would happen to their pets.
Most domestic violence shelters aren't equipped to accommodate pets, and the PAWS Act helps address this cap.
"What we find is that victims of domestic violence so oftentimes have a beloved pet in their life. And that beloved pet is something that they care very deeply about, as all of us who are pet owners know exactly what that is about. And when you have that pet if you're the victim of domestic violence, and you're seeking to leave that relationship and go to a shelter, you oftentimes do not want to leave, if you have an animal left back at the house," Sen. Peters said.
“Domestic violence is sadly an issue that is all too prevalent in our communities. Unfortunately, we know that in cases of abuse, pets are likely to also become targets, and that abusers will use violence against animals to exert control over their victims,” Sen. Peters said. “To me, it’s simple: protecting the PAWS Act means protecting survivors and protecting their pets. That’s why I’m now fighting to pass new, bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the program for the next 5 years and ensure that these resources remain available for shelters in Michigan and across the country.”
Since the grant program was first funded, Sen. Peter's office said there has consistently been a high demand for PAWS funding.
“Our PETS Program can provide an important resource for survivors of domestic violence and help them begin a new chapter of their lives while knowing their pets are safe,” Tania Jaczkowski, Executive Director of the Humane Society of West Michigan said. “We thank Senator Peters for his leadership on the PAWS Act, which is helping to create programs like ours across the country.”
Sen. Peters learned more about how the Humane Society of West Michigan assists victims of domestic violence through its Providing Emergency Temporary Shelter (PETS) Network, a program that accepts pets affected by a number of situations, including in cases of domestic violence.
“In my role, I see firsthand how critical our emergency pet shelter can be in situations of domestic violence,” Ashley Dahl, Director of Community Programs at the Humane Society of West Michigan said. “Grant programs like the one created by Senator Peters’ PAWS Act will keep victims of domestic violence and their pets safe.”
“When a victim is deciding whether or not to get the help they need, making sure they can find a safe home for their pet is often a key factor in the process,” Charisse Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of West Central Michigan said. “We are proud of our partnership with the Humane Society of West Michigan, which helps connect victims with the resources they need to protect their pets. Thank you to Senator Peters for your efforts to reauthorize the PAWS Act, and for being here today to highlight this important issue.”
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