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."