For many years, the legal community, law enforcement, doctors and the media continue to ask, “why don’t victims just leave their abusers?” The answer is not as simple as you may think. Each victim endures a variety of circumstances which weighs on their decision to leave. One common trend in our community surrounds victims inability to leave home without their pets.
Pets are sometimes used to control and manipulate victims of domestic violence; “if you leave me I will hurt the dog”. Even more disturbing, pets are frequently abused as a part of family violence. In 2007, The Belle Bowman Fund awarded the Battered Women’s Shelter funds to explore options to address the needs of victims’ pets. As a result, we have been able to continue our efforts to address the needs of victims in our community.
On October 1, 2011, the Battered Women’s Shelter will co-host the second annual Walk and Wag awareness and fundraising event with Pawsibilities: The Humane Society of Greater Akron and Towpath Credit Union. http://walkandwag.eventbrite.com/
For every $300 raised, the Battered Women’s Shelter will be able to house 9 individuals and locate housing for 3 pets.
Please join us from 10am-1pm at BARC, the famous Akron Dog Park at 499 Memorial Pkwy in Akron.