Next Sunday’s “Paws 4 a Cause” event in Tunbridge sounds like it’ll be a woofing good time, with a dog parade and contests, canine demonstrations and vendors, and even paw readings by Madame Pawdini.
The family-friendly gathering, runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds on Route 110. And like so many family dogs who will attend, the event is fun and cuddly on the surface, but it’s driven by a strong protective streak.
“We want to get the word out about the connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence,” said Linda Ingold, executive director of Safeline, a Chelsea-based nonprofit that assists victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking in Orange and northern Windsor counties. “If someone is abusing a pet or threatening to do so, that that’s a very high risk” that they are not far off from abusing humans.
Proceeds from admission will benefit the nonprofit, which assisted 334 people in the 2017-18 fiscal year, with 59% being victims of domestic violence. At the Paws 4 a Cause event, Safeline aims to highlight the often-unseen connection between animal abuse and domestic abuse. It also will provide information about resources to help subjects of domestic violence, whether they have four legs or two.
“Sometimes we hear women saying they’re not going to leave, that they’d rather stay with their abuser than leave the pet alone,” Ingold said.
Numerous researchers have found a connection between animal cruelty and other types of violence. A 2004 study of abused women found that 48% said animal abuse had occurred in the home in the last year, while 30% reported that animal abuse occurred “almost always” alongside domestic or sexual abuse.
And people’s connection with their pets can sometimes prevent them from getting the help they need, according to Ingold. A person trying to leave an abusive situation may have come up with a plan to protect themselves and their children.
“Then it suddenly dawns on her, ‘Oh my goodness, I have my dog,’ ” she said. “That can be a tool that the abuser uses to have control over and get their way.”
But pets are part of Safeline’s plan. when the nonprofit’s advocates help people domestive violence survivors with an exit plan, they try to take into account every person — and every living thing — the victim wants to protect.
“I think that people don’t think about it. They think about the children and how the children will obviously be in danger,” Ingold said. “They are more important than the family pet; however, the family pet might be the only object that gives unconditional love to a woman if she’s being abused.”
Safeline works to find placements for domestic violence survivors that allow pets, though that can be difficult, especially in an emergency. The organization has one volunteer who provides an emergency foster home to dogs of domestic violence victims and is looking for more volunteers willing to take in pets — not just dogs, but cats and horses.
“When everyone is in danger, we have to take it as a whole package to make every component safe,” Ingold said, noting that Vermont was one of the first states to include pets in domestic violence protective orders.
Safeline also treats animal abuse by children as a useful warning sign to help prevent future domestic violence.
“If youth are abusing an animal and being cruel to an animal, that is a risk factor. That is a sign that there needs to be some intervention because we don’t want that child to grow up being abusive to people,” Ingold said. “Early reporting is essential and helping to identify those abusers early through education and monitoring; then that, we’re hoping, will protect the lives of animals and people in the future.”
Ingold hopes Paws 4 a Cause will help people have fun while at the same time learning about the resources that are available for domestic violence victims. The organization hopes to make it an annual event.
Editor’s note: Admission to Paws 4 a Cause is $10 for a dog and its family, and $3 for people attending without furry friends. For more information, visit safelinevt.org or call 802-685-7900. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
