Pet Article Written in SFGate

"Your Whole Pet"
By Christie Keith SFGate

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/10/16/petscol.DTL

This article is written about how some abusers take the anger out on their pets. Why, maybe because they are angry with their partners, and most people consisder their pets to part of the family, so by using domestic violence on the them would be hurting the other person as well. Their are 71 percent of pet owners in a shelter for domestic violence that someone they knew had threatened to harm or kill their pets. In the state of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed, SB353, a bill that was authorized by State Sen. Sheila Kuehl, that would allow judges to name pets in restraining orders. "This legislation will prevent abusers from harming or threatening to harm animals in order to exert power and control over their human victims," Kuehl said.
Christie Keith states that, " services for the pets of families where abuse is taking place won't just protect the pets; such assistance will help get victims out of dangerous living environments by eliminating one of the weapons abusers often use to keep their victims from leaving. "
In Keiths' own expirence, she had, had a women come to her door asking if she could take her cat, because her boyfriend had just thrown i out the window and if she brought it back home she was scared he would do the same, and he had always threatened that if she broke up with him the cat would get hurt.
Keith says, that their needs to be an increase in awarness among social service workers, veterinarians, and educaters between violence and abuse agianst animals and humna family members.
I chose this article because when I read the title I wanted to know more, to find out that people are hurting animals for no reason really makes me mad, because the animals really didn't do anything. I care for animals alot and am one of those people that sometimes put animals or my pets first. I am glad to see that a Bill was passed to try and put a stop to this abuse.