San Diego's Divorce Lawyers - Divorce With Respect For Over 30 Years

Protecting Pets From Domestic Violence

Sat, 2007-11-03 16:00 — Michele

California Senate Bill Number 353 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in September. Effective January 1, 2008, the law allows judges to include pets in any restraining orders issued as part of domestic violence cases.

This means that a person seeking a domestic violence restraining order in California can now ask the judge to give him or her exclusive custody of the family pet.

In enacting the law, the California Legislature found there was a correlation between animal abuse, family violence and other forms of community violence. The Legislature also found that perpetrators of domestic violence often abuse animals in order to intimidate, harass or silence their human victims. A survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child abuse and neglect found that animals were abused in 88% of homes where child physical abuse was present. A 1997 survey of 50 of the largest shelters for battered women in this country found that 85% of women and 63% of children entering shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family. A study of women seeking shelter at a safe house showed that 71% of those having pets affirmed that their partner had threatened, hurt, or killed their companion animals.

User Login
Copyright: 2000-2011 Lowenstein Brown APLC
Site by Ageye
This communication is an advertisement as defined by The Rules of Professional Conduct and California Business and Professions Code.

No communication resulting herein shall create an attorney-client relationship unless a separate retainer is signed by the attorney and the client. Viewing of this web site does not constitute the provision of legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing or responding to this website. The information displayed on this web site is intended for viewers in California.

The information in this web site is published to inform our clients and friends about current issues of importance in the field of family law. The articles presented in this web site should be viewed only as a summary of each topic and not be construed as legal advice. Legal counsel should be sought for the answers to specific legal questions. This website is a communication concerning the firm’s  availability for professional employment within the meaning of California Rule of Professional Conduct 1-400(A).

Rules governing our practice before the Internal Revenue Service require that we advise you that any tax advice on this website (i) is information only and not to be relied on and (ii) is not written with the intent that it be used, and in fact it cannot be used, to avoid penalties imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or to promote, market, or recommend to another person any tax-related idea.