New Maine Law Expands to Protect Pets

From HappyNews.com -- "Spurred by growing evidence of a link between domestic violence and animal abuse, Maine has enacted a first-in-the-nation law that allows judges to include pets in protection orders for spouses and partners leaving abusive relationships."

This is an interesting law. After reading the article, I agree completely. We've all heard of women and even sometimes men who stay in an abusive relationship because of fear of what might happen to their children if they leave the marriage. But, it's amazing how many women stay in an abusive relationship because of the fear of what might happen to their pets.

Here is another excerpt from the article:

"Susan Walsh, whose dog and sheep were killed by her husband, said many victims stand to benefit from including pets in protection orders.

"I've heard so many horror stories from other women that I knew I was not alone," she said.

When the bill came up for consideration at a public hearing in January, Walsh recounted how she remained in an abusive marriage in part out of fear for what might happen to her pets and farm animals if she left.

Walsh said her husband shot two of her sheep inside their Ellsworth barn. Another time, when she was visiting her parents in Pennsylvania, he deliberately ran his truck over her deaf and blind border collie in their driveway, she said.

Walsh, who stayed in the marriage for more than 12 years before her divorce in 2001, said she would have left sooner had it not been for her responsibilities to the animals."

Good for Maine. I hope the rest of the country steps up and takes notice. To read the entire news story, please go to HappyNews.com.

Make it a great day!