Domestic violence survivor Hazel Rios describes how her love for her three dogs got her caught up in a cycle of violence with her abuser, who spent years harming and sometimes weeding her. He recalls hitting her with machines, baseball bats, chairs, and two-handed punches. 4s and rock too.
“I had three children and three dogs, a pit bull and two purebred Pomeranians. When I tried to walk away from my abuser, he grabbed one or more of my dogs. So even if I break up with him, I will miss my pet and will always come home,” Rios said. “I knew he was mean to my dogs and was abusive, because he would hurt them to hurt me.”
About a year ago, Rios finally found the right time to escape with her children and dog, only to discover that the domestic violence shelter on Hawaii Island didn’t allow pets. She found a pet sitter, but struggled to pay the fees and ultimately lost the dogs.
Although losing her pet left a hole in Rios’ heart, she has made great strides in other aspects of her life. She now has her own place and job and is pursuing a degree in social work to help other women in abusive situations. But she could have gotten there sooner if her unique challenges had been addressed.
Stories like Rios’ are why Child & Family Services, known as CFS, won a grant earlier this year and will soon launch Our House of Hope: Pet Place. This will allow survivors to take their pets to participating shelters where CFS is building pet kennels. To hold them.
CFS President and CEO Amanda Pump said the pet program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women, and many shelters do not allow animals to be brought in. It said it was created to remove barriers that survivors with pets face when evacuating, as it is prohibited. , and to ensure that domestic violence treatment is comprehensive.
She said the agency’s other pet program partners include the Hawaii Humane Society, Hawaii FI-Do Service Dogs and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, commonly referred to as the SPCA.
“Not only can we house pets, but we can also work with the Hawaii Humane Society to get them the vaccinations they need. The SPCA also provides vaccinations and health exams for the animals.” he said. . “Hawaii Phi Do offers behavior classes because we know that when pets are mistreated, they become anxious and may growl or bark. We want you to come to Hawaii Fi-Do and provide behavioral support for your pet, which only increases the options for survivors with well-cared-for pets. We are very excited about the project and believe we are the first in Hawaii to work together to provide such a wide range of services to support pets.”
direct correlation
Pomp said studies have shown that abusers often harm pets as a means of control and that survivors are reluctant to leave abusive situations because they can’t take their pets with them. . That’s why CFS recognizes that a holistic approach to dealing with domestic and intimate partner abuse should address pets, she said.
“There is certainly a direct correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence. Animals are also used as a means for survivors to remain in the abuser’s home,” Pomp said. .
She added that over the past 20 to 30 years, CFS has frequently heard stories of survivors refusing shelter services because they don’t want to leave their pets behind.
“The new Child and Family Services program, which finds kennels for abused people’s pets and ensures they are healthy, is a great thing and helps many abused people and their animals,” Rios said. It will really save us,” he said. It helps a lot! If I had been able to take my dog outside when I first tried to leave my abuser, I could have saved myself a year of domestic violence. ”
Pump said the goal is to expand the pet program over the next three years and hopefully gather enough support to keep it going.
“Helping survivors and their families and adding pets into the equation increases the cost of services for social service providers, and most domestic violence programs are already struggling with the cost of serving people right now.” she stated. “This is definitely an economic vs. ethical dilemma, but we hope that governments and donors recognize this need and ensure that all family members, including pets, receive the services they need as they begin to recover from abusive conditions. I hope you will support me in my trauma. ”
Our House of Hope: Pet Place comes as pet advocates raise awareness about pet abuse.
Activists picketed outside the Honolulu District Court for several hours Friday to stand up for abused pets. Their actions follow efforts by state lawmakers and animal advocacy groups to urge Honolulu police and the prosecutor’s office to reopen an animal cruelty case related to the death of a 14-year-old terrier mix named Max.
On the sidewalk in front of the courthouse, Hinaz Legacy project manager Rachel Teruya held a placard that read, “#Justice for Max, Max’s Call: Don’t Ignore, Protect, End Animal Cruelty!” was raised.
Teruya was one of four foster parents who took in the elderly dog, Max, after he was rescued on July 6th, in an attempt to help Max recover from his injuries. He died on Aug. 12, she said, and the case against the alleged abuser was dropped on Sept. 17.
“Max’s blanket is still in the car,” Teruya said. “We would like to see the case reopened. We believe there is sufficient evidence. We need to be more aware of the prevalence of animal abuse in our communities. Investigators have made a strong case, but prosecutors have not followed through.”
Teruya said there is a high correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence, which is also a serious concern for the community.
“It’s really sad. If you look at the statistics (ASPCA survey), you’ll see that 71 percent of abused women report that their abuser threatened or hurt the family pet,” she said. Ta.
Escalating incidents
Mr Pump said the pet program also comes as the community grapples with an increase in domestic violence and intimate partner violence incidents and increasing severity.
“Domestic violence affects everyone, including businesses, which is why it is vital that we come together as a community to fight it,” she said. “We need to do this holistically.”
Pomp said that according to the Hawaii Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s 2022 report, “Emotional Scars: Barriers to Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence,” domestic violence is on the rise in Hawaii and the severity of the violence is increasing. He said that the situation is increasing.
“This report shows that the incidence of intimate partner violence (or IPV) in Hawaii can range from approximately 200,000 residents to have experienced IPV at any point in the past five years. ” she said.
He said 12% of those surveyed reported having had objects thrown or hit, and about 5% reported being strangled, choked or suffocated.
As a result, CFS shelter occupancy has increased by 18% and the number of calls received to the CFS hotline has increased by 16% over the past year, Pump said.
Hawaii Humane Society President and CEO Anna Neubauer said the pet program is a natural extension of their shared history with CFS.
“When we first started, we were here to support single mothers, children and animals, but eventually we became the Hawaii Humane Society, with a focus on animal welfare, and with a human element. & family services. The women and children element,” Neubauer said.
She said a pet program is needed and recalled an incident a few days ago where an animal was surrendered after domestic violence.
“The woman had visible bruises and said she had surrendered three animals to us due to domestic violence, which was heartbreaking,” Neubauer said. “She didn’t want to do it, but she didn’t feel they were safe. Often, abusers use animals to attack their victims and threaten to harm them. , the victims do it. So there were a lot of cases where animals were abused along with women.”
behavioral support
Susan Luers, founder and board chair of Hawaiian Fi-Do Service Dogs, said the nonprofit provides canine behavioral support to CFS clients who may be suffering from anxiety or fear. He said he plans to do so.
“We will help you identify signs of stress and fear in dogs and teach you how to deal with them,” Luers said. “We teach dogs how to train them, how to keep them healthy and how to prevent bites.”
Luers said the purpose of the training is to ensure that the dogs are well-behaved so that owners don’t face difficulties in owning them inside the shelter or after they leave the shelter.
“That’s the great thing about this program: It helps people get their lives back, not having to worry about anything anymore,” she said. “It’s very relaxing because owners and pets can be together.”
