EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would grant victims of domestic violence possession of their pets.
The Evansville Courier and Press reports animal advocates and domestic violence organizations spoke in favor of the bill during the committee hearing Wednesday.
The bill proposed by Republican State Sen. Vaneta Becker would also order police officers to recover pets for victims after an incident.
According to the Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, up to 40 percent of victims say they stayed in an abusive relationship out of fear for their pet’s safety. Other studies, the publication says, showed higher numbers.
Since her initial session in the Indiana House, Becker has worked on statutes concerning domestic violence.
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1 comment
We need to pass a new cigarette tax and new wheel tax so there will be plenty of money to fix this. We can build every pet their own home and pay humans to be there pets…We can pay animal psychologists to talk with the pets to see who they want to live with. Maybe we can include pet support payments in the custody hearings…Put people in prison that are “dead beats”… Are you kidding me? Nothing better to do with our legislative branch than this?