Animal cruelty problems are people problems

15 years ago

Animal cruelty problems are people problems

PET BULLETIN

‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society

By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald

    Saturday at Tractor Supply was AMAZING! I was not able to attend, but the members who were there said it was great to meet so many wonderful people and chat about their critters. We adopted out four of the six cats that were there; they were cats that had been at the humane society for a very long time, so it was great that they found wonderful, loving homes. In three days last week, we adopted out 25 cats, so even though we are losing money on every adoption, we would rather have them in wonderful forever homes than in the shelter. This awesome deal will only last until the end of April, so don’t miss this opportunity to adopt a cat at half price. 

    April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month! In 2006, Gov. John E. Baldacci signed LD 1881 into law. It is the first law in the country that gives judges the authority to protect pets when domestic abuse victims seek a protection order. This law gives judges the power to include pets on a protection from abuse order and also gives them authority to impose penalties if the order is violated. Those penalties range from a fine to jail time. This is an exciting step in the right direction. Domestic violence is domestic violence and all too often women refuse to leave their abuser because they don’t want their animals hurt or killed. Animals are often used as a tool to threaten victims and used as an example of abuse. Animal abuse is an indicator that other forms of abuse may be occurring and investigations need to be done. This is a huge step in the fight against domestic violence.
    If you see someone being cruel to an animal, what should you do? You should call your local police department and report it. Saving an animal today from abuse could be saving a person in the future from being abused. It is important to be the voice for those who cannot speak because yes, it is your problem. We all have to step up to the plate and take responsibility for reporting such behavior. Turning a blind eye to this situation is not going to solve the problem, it may even make it worse. Americanhumane.org gives us the following information:
    • 71 percent of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32 percent reported their children had hurt or killed animals.
    • 68 percent of battered women reported violence toward their animals. Eighty-seven percent of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75 percent in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them.
    • 13 percent of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence.
    • Between 25 percent and 40 percent of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave.
    Pets may suffer unexplained injuries, health problems, permanent disabilities at the hands of abusers, or disappear from home. Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse. Disturbed children kill or harm animals to emulate their parents’ conduct, to prevent the abuser from killing the pet, or to take out their aggressions on another victim.
    In one study, 70 percent of animal abusers also had records for other crimes. Domestic violence victims whose animals were abused saw the animal cruelty as one more violent episode in a long history of indiscriminate violence aimed at them and their vulnerability.
    Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble. For many battered women, pets are sources of comfort providing strong emotional support: 98 percent of Americans consider pets to be companions or members of the family.
    Animal cruelty problems are people problems. When animals are abused, people are at risk.
    If you are looking for a friend for life, please stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We have many wonderful animals waiting for responsible loving homes. You can visit us on line at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org. Please have your pets spayed or neutered.

 

Photos courtesy of Christine Robinson

 

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    STUDENT COUNCIL DONATION — Lindsay Michaud and Kate Campbell of the Student Council at PIHS, collected items for donation to the Central Aroostook Humane Societ. Here, Michaud delivers the items, including paper towels, pet food and cleaning products.

 

 

 

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    PHI DELTA SIGMA National Honor Society from UMPI donated dog food, cat food, blankets, towels, paper towels, news papers and $45 to the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle. Members all spent the day on Saturday, March 6, volunteering by helping out with the dishes, socializing the cats and dogs, walking dogs, etc. Pictured, from left: Laura Hunter; Gwenn DeFelice; Rachel Graves; Amy Barnes, president; Becky Stepp, historian; and Jim Stepp, advisor.

 

 

 

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    HONOR SOCIETY DONATES — Members of Phi Delta Sigma National Honor Society, of UMPI, recently helped out at the Central Aroostook Humane Society, donating money, supplies and their time to benefit the animals. Pictured, from left: Betsy Hallett, shelter manager; and Amy Barnes, Phi Delta Sigma president.