WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) – Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters visited the West Michigan Humane Society in Walker on Friday to call for reauthorization of funding for the Pet and Women's Safety Act.
The bipartisan PAWS Act was originally passed in 2018 and provides funding to organizations that help house domestic violence survivors and their pets.
“Even if you're a victim of domestic violence and want to leave the relationship and go to a shelter, if an animal is left in your home, you often don't want to leave. In fact, We know that abusers will use the pet as a weapon against the woman, harming and threatening the pet,” Peters said. “Right now, we hope to fund this program with approximately $3 million to be used in shelters across the country over the next five years.”
Tania Jakowski, executive director of the Humane Society of West Michigan, says it's a common problem.
“On average, this program receives over 20 calls a week,” Jakowski said. “And I think a large portion of that is obviously from unhoused individuals, but I think a lot of that is what we're hearing from survivors of domestic violence.”
The YWCA of Midwest Michigan understands how programs like this can really help survivors, said CEO Charice Mitchell.
“Ensuring a safe place for pets while they stay at the shelter for 40 days; veterinary emergency services for pets that have been abused as part of that relationship,” Mitchell said. “The PET program makes that possible. The PAWS Act allows these types of partnerships to flourish.”
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said he has seen cases where animals are killed in domestic abuse situations, which often leads to additional felonies in the case.
“For many people, pets are like children. So when you're exerting some kind of control over that pet, you're essentially exercising control over your domestic partner. “There will be,” Becker said. “And that's where we generally see it, and when we get involved, it almost always reaches extreme levels.”
