71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims.
68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them.
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3% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave. The Safe Haven Network understands that pets are family, too, and we don't leave family behind. We help victims of domestic violence find safe places for their pets to stay, so that they can all escape abuse together. Source: The American Humane Association, http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html
