“Victims of family violence are often left deciding whether to stay in an abusive situation or to go and leave behind their beloved pet,” said Vicki Deisner, the Midwest legislative director for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Deisner cited an example of a colleague whose father broke his beagle’s legs. The mother and child stayed in the home until the dog died.

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center CEO Sandra Ziebold said she has heard similar stories.

“Those are accounts as a CEO of our community, but also I’m a survivor and my pet was harmed in 2002,” Ziebold said. “Having had this would have been immensely helpful.”

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com

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