Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act Introduced in Congress

PAWS Act

Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) recently introduced H.R. 5267, the Pet and Women Safety Act of 2014, in Congress. The official title of the Act is “To protect the pets of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.”

According to Representative Clark’s official website, this bill is designed to help domestic violence victims who stay in abusive relationships out of concern for the safety of their pets. Studies show that abusers often target the pets of their victims to exert control over them. Sadly, domestic violence shelters are rarely able to accommodate pets.

This proposed legislation will expand federal law to include protection for pets of domestic violence victims, and also establish a federal grant program to assist in providing safe shelter for these pets.

For full text of the bill, and to track its progress through Congress, click HERE.