Congresswoman Clark Celebrates Passage of PAWS Act

Rep. Katherine Clark joined animal and domestic violence survivors to celebrate the passage of the PAWS Act. The act expands federal domestic violence protections to the pets of the victims of domestic violence as well.

Survivors of domestic abuse tend to delay leaving their partner out of fear of repercussions to their pet. As many as one-third of survivors reported delaying their decision for a pet. Victims who are forced to leave their pets behind because of a lack of pet sheltering options report an ongoing dread for the safety of their pet.

“No one should have to make the choice between finding safety and staying in a violent situation to protect their pet,” said Congresswoman Clark. “For most pet owners, including me, their dog or cat is a part of their family and this law empowers survivors with the resources to leave a dangerous situation while being able to continue to care for their family. I’m grateful for the partnerships we’ve formed between organizations working to end both domestic violence and animal abuse. Together, we crafted a bill that will help save lives.”

Pets can be used as a tool for abusers to coerce a survivor back into the relationship. According to one study, as many as 25 percent of participants reported returning to an abusive relationship out of concern for their pets.

Despite of pets being a vital part of a survivor's decision to leave an abusive relationship, there are only 73 domestic violence shelters nationwide that accommodate pets.

The act will be signed into law on Thursday by President Trump. It was originally introduced in 2014 and has been heralded by bipartisan lawmakers and advocates as a central solution to the fight to end domestic violence.

Richard Patch, Vice President of Federal Affairs for the ASPCA said, “We are grateful to Representative Clark for her steadfast leadership on this issue and we applaud Congress for including this groundbreaking provision in the Farm Bill.”

The PAWS Act establishes a federal grant program specifically designed to assist victims of domestic violence to safely shelter their pets when they leave their abusers.

Photo Credit: Office of Rep. Katherine Clark