Prof. NURIA VIÑAS1, Prof. Miguel Angel Soria1, Prof. Alba Company1, Prof. Ariadna Trespaderne1, Forest Service District Ranger Jose Miguel de Pablo3
1Profiling And Crime Behaviour Analysis Group, Law School, Univ. Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain,
2Institute of Legal Medicine, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain,
3Agents Rurals (Forest Rangers), Sta Perpetua, Catalonia, Spain
Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)™ is the first global initiative for DV shelters on how to house families together with their pets enabling more DV victims to leave abusive households without leaving their pets behind and at risk and has grown to over 150 shelters in the US, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain allowing pets on-site. SAF-T recognizes the human-animal bond and that family pets can provide comfort, reassurance and healing to adult and child survivors. 71 % of abused women in the USA reported their pets being harmed, killed or threatened in order to control or intimidate them. Up to 65% of women refuse or delay leaving an abusive home out of fear of leaving their pets or livestock behind. As of 2019, 33 States as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico have enacted laws that include pets in DV protection orders. On December 20, 2018, the provisions of the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act were signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill which establishes a grant program for entities that provide shelter and housing assistance for DV survivors to enable them to better meet the housing needs of survivors with pets. The new law also takes the important step of including pets, service and emotional support animals, and horses in federal law pertaining to interstate stalking, protection order violations, and restitution. The new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act states that to threaten companion or farm animals as a way to control a partner is considered as coercive and abusive behavior.
Biography:
Medical Doctor, Biologist and Criminologist. Prof. Profiling And Crime Behaviour Analysis Group, Law School, Univ. Barcelona. National Sheriffs’ Association, NLECAA Advisory Board Member, USA. NSA’s DV and Crime Victim Services Member, USA. NSA’s Animal Cruelty Committee. Representative of the Council of Medical Societies at the National Comission Against Domestic Violence, Government of Catalonia. Representative of the Council of Medical Societies at the Working Group on Sexual Violence & Stalking of the National Comission Against Domestic Violence, Government of Catalonia. Member of WONCA (World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of Family Physicians ) Special Interest Group on DV.