(Montreal) Domestic violence has its share of collateral victims. In addition to spouses, children and relatives of victims, household pets are often witnesses to acts of violence, when they are simply not the target.
The pet can be exploited by a violent spouse to have power over his spouse, indicates Annick Brazeau, president of the Regroupement des centers pour femmes victims de violence conjugale and director of the help and accommodation center Pour Elles des Deux-Vallées, in Outaouais.
“He will hit the animal and kill it and say to his victim: ‘next time, it’s going to be you,'” she says. The aggressor knows that the animal is a source of comfort for the victim and by hurting her, he hurts her, by ricochet. »
By protective reflex, the animal can also come between the executioner and his victim during episodes of violence, she adds.
Moreover, according to Carl Girard, founder of the SPA des Cantons and founder of the Association of Canine Trainers of Quebec, many dogs who have witnessed or been victims of domestic violence do not make it.
Like the victim, the dog is traumatized stiff, and it would also have to undertake a journey to recover. But you can’t blame the victim if they don’t feel capable or don’t have the resources to help their dog as they try to pull themselves out.
Carl Girard, founder of the SPA des Cantons and founder of the Association of Canine Trainers of Quebec
“But in any case, the animal pays for the violence that there is in the house,” he continues.
Police forces do not compile data for animals abused in domestic violence cases, we learned after filing a few freedom of information requests.
A barrier to leaving the spouse
The links between domestic violence and animal abuse are well known to animal welfare organizations, says Ms.e Sophie Gaillard, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA.
The presence of an animal in the home where the violence is taking place sometimes causes the victim to delay seeking help. For example, an abusive spouse may threaten to attack the pet to exert control over his or her partner.
“It is common for the victim who is thinking of leaving the unhealthy situation to hesitate because they do not want to abandon the animal and leave it at the mercy of the aggressor,” says Ms.e Guy.
Or because they return home to feed the animal or see how it is doing, women find themselves in contact with their attacker, which complicates the termination of the marital bond, underlines Ms.me Brazeau.
Refuges requested
Unfortunately, most shelters or shelters for victims of domestic violence do not allow them to bring their pets, due to a lack of space and resources in particular.
“There are several security issues related to all this. In addition to the question of space, there is the fact that we welcome people who may be allergic or who are afraid of animals, underlines Mme Brazeau. There are also animals that will be violent because they have been mistreated. »
This is without taking into account the diversity of the animals which makes it difficult to welcome them. “We receive requests, but not just for dogs and cats, notes Annick Brazeau. We see rabbits, hamsters, rats… We have already had a request for a boa and even for a horse! »
The need to house the animals for a few weeks, even a few months, while the victim relocates, has been expressed for several years by the RMFVVC, indicates Ms.me Brazeau.
“It’s a difficulty and a need for which we need to find solutions,” underlines the director and president. Some of our members have tried partnerships with SPAs or with groups of volunteers who find temporary homes for the animals, but these are solutions on a case-by-case basis. »
Gray areas
For animal shelters, caring for pets is an issue with several gray areas from a legal point of view.
“First, we cannot always establish with certainty that the victim is indeed the owner of the animal, indicates another source well versed in the file. Then, if the violent spouse comes to claim it, we have no choice but to give it to him. »
Until then, M.me Brazeau encourages relatives of victims of domestic violence to take their pet under their wing.
“Sometimes we wonder how to help someone who is experiencing violence,” she says. Taking care of your animal is a good way to make yourself useful.
“We must not forget that the victim will also need to relocate afterwards,” she continues. And there, it is not easy to find accommodation where animals are accepted. This is another problem to solve. »
A financial assistance program intended to support shelters in the care of these pets is currently being sketched out at the Department of Justice, learned The Canadian Press. However, it was not possible to learn more since the details of this initiative are not yet public.
This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.