Tomorrow (July 2), the California Assembly Public Safety Committee will consider a bill that seeks to expand the definition of stalking to include behavior that seeks to harm or threaten a domestic violence victim’s pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. This bill would bring California in line with the federal stalking statute.
AKC encourages California residents to contact the Assembly Public Safety Committee todayby phone at (916) 319-3744 to support the bill as currently written.
In your communications, be sure to include that it is important to support the bill as it is currently written, no amendments are needed. It is critical that vulnerable pets are protected before they are subject to harm, not after. Be sure to mention why it is so important to protect vulnerable people and their beloved pets from being further traumatized by their abusers.
Summary:
Senate Bill 89 addresses stalking statute by bringing state law in line with federal law concerning the act of threatening or seeking to harm domestic violence victim’s pet.
Numerous studies and feedback from law enforcement officers indicate that a significant percentage of domestic violence situations also involve threats of, and outright abuse of pets. Studies have shown that nearly half (48%) of women delay leaving an abusive situation out of concern for their pet and 70% of victims report their abuser threatened, injured or killed their pet. Sadly, many abusers often use maltreatment or threats of abuse against pets as leverage to prevent victims from fleeing abusive relationships. In one study, 25% of the participants reported that they returned to an abusive relationship out of concern for their pets.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.