Peters Introduces Bills To Protect Domestic Violence Victim’s Pets

Multiple studies have shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate their victims by threatening or harming their pets.

U.S. Senators Gary Peters as co-sponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, to protect victims of domestic violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts or threats of violence against their pets.

The PAWS Act would amend the federal criminal code to prohibit threats or acts of violence against a person’s pet under the offenses of stalking and interstate violation of a protection order.

The bill also requires the full amount of the victim’s losses for purposes of restitution in domestic violence and stalking offenses to include any costs incurred for veterinary services relating to physical care for the victim’s pet.

The legislation further directs the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities to carry out programs to provide specified housing assistance, support services, and training of relevant stakeholders to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and their pets.