(WKBN) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law an amended bill granting more protection to victims’ pets in domestic violence situations on Monday.
H.B. 1210, introduced nearly four years ago, amends Pa.’s Protection from Abuse Act to give judges the ability to order a defendant to refrain from possessing, abusing or harming a petitioner’s companion animal.
Previously, the act gave judges the ability to order many kinds of relief to prevent further abuse but did not give explicit authority to order protective measures for a victim’s pets.
A violation of this order will result in an arrest and may be without a warrant.
“We have known for some time the horrific link between domestic violence and animal abuse,” State Representative Christina Sappey said in a news release. “Abusers will use harming pets to further torment the victim or keep them from leaving, exacerbating an already traumatic situation.”
According to the Humane Society of the United States, data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses. Researchers have found links between coercive control and the abuse of pets, with abusers often using family pets as leverage in the torment of their victims.
The new law brings the Commonwealth in line with 37 other states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and will go into effect in the next 60 days.
