HAVEN continues to work with MSPCA to pass this important bill in Massachusetts.
Bill considers pet protection
Copyright 2009 NE newspapers, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
Wednesday, April 15
BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers and animal rights advocates hope to pass a law that would protect pets in domestic violence cases, making it easier for victims to leave their abusers.
Reps. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, and Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, spoke Tuesday at an animal rights lobby about the bill they filed to allow the inclusion of pets in temporary restraining orders.
"That's excellent," said Carol Lew, chairwoman of the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter Board of Directors, upon learning about the law.
State Rep. Denis Guyer, D-Dalton, is listed as one of the law's backers. Maine, New York, California and Illinois have passed similar laws.
Koutoujian said numerous cases are on record of abusers using pets to threaten victims, even killing the animal.
"We have seen that and have ended up with animals where people were afraid and didn't want to do anything (for themselves) until their animals were safe," said Lew.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals cites studies that show 48 percent of people would not leave or would return to a violent relationship because they feared what would happen to their pet.
"We look at it as violence intervention, even with a pet," said Deborah Parkington, the program director of the Elizabeth Freeman Shelter in Pittsfield, which serves local victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. "Oftentimes in a domestic violence case, abuse with a pet is the first thing they see. Animal control officers are often (among) the first on the scene."
Parkington said this bill and similar legislation is frequently discussed during meetings of HAVEN, or the Human Animal Violence Education Network. The group meets at the Berkshire Humane Society today at 1 p.m.
Asked if she hopes the bill will pass, Parkington replied, "Yes."
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NEWS - HAVEN and Friends
Berkshire County Asst District Attorney Kellp Kemp Received Award
We are proud to announce that HAVEN partner Berkshire County Asst District Attorney Kellp Kemp is this years recipient of the Mass Veterinary Medical Association's Merit Award. Kelly is being honored for her tough prosecution of animal cruelty cases in Berkshire County and her efforts through HAVEN to educate other prosecutors in MA. Kelly is the Chief Prosecutor in the DAs office and an adjunct faculty member in the Criminal Justice Dept at Berkshire Community College. She is featured in this month's Animal Life Publication, pick up a copy!
Congratulations to Kelly, everyone at HAVEN is very proud!! See you at the Awards dinner!
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Read Press Release - PDF
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"...Receiving the offer of free labor from a hard working, motivated student is always good news, however this news was different because the student is a retired juvenile court judge!! The Honorable Chief Justice (ret) Martha Grace has been working with HAVEN for the month of January..."
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DA's training links domestic violence, animal abuse
"...Dr. Lorna Grande, coordinator of the Berkshire Country-based Human/Animal Violence Education Network, said her coalition had found in 88 percent of the child abuse cases they handled, pets in the home were also subject to abuse or neglect..."
June 18, 2010
Read Story - Boston.com
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