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June - July, 2008
Serving the people of the 26th Senate District
by State Senator Fred Risser
In Senator Risser Applauds Senate Approval of
Domestic Violence Legislation
The State Senate voted today to approve Senate Bill
162, a domestic abuse bill which would permit a court to consider the
threat to pets as a factor in issuing domestic abuse restraining
orders.
Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison), author of the bill, praised today's
vote.
"I am delighted that the Senate voted to pass this important domestic
abuse legislation," Risser said.
Risser pointed out that, "Few domestic abuse shelters allow animals,
so consequently many battered women will not leave an abusive
relationship or they will delay leaving because they do not want to
abandon their pets. The abuser will often threaten to harm or kill the
animal if the woman leaves. Too often these threats are carried out."
"My bill allows a victim to leave an abusive situation knowing that
there is a court order against harming her pet," Risser said.
Risser added that abusers know that abusing or threatening to abuse
pets can keep victims from seeking help.
Senator Risser also noted that the impact of this kind of abuse has an
alarming effect on children. "Seeing or hearing abuse has a dramatic
effect on children. It can become a model for how children view
others. Children who witness this kind of abuse are at a much higher
risk of becoming abusers themselves," Risser said.
The bill now goes to the Assembly where he urges swift passage.
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