When domestic violence occurs in a home, animals are often victims, too. Batterers frequently threaten, injure or kill companion animals to intimidate, control or punish family members. Consequently, as studies show, many domestic violence victims delay leaving an abusive environment because they don’t want to leave their beloved animals in harm’s way. In 2014, we succeeded in helping to secure a one-time $50,000 appropriation to the NM Children, Youth and Families Department to provide funds for Animal Protection of New Mexico’s Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) program, funding services for animals of domestic violence victims at zero or low cost. In 2015, a recurring $50,000 expenditure in the CYFD’s annual budget. This funding has been crucial to helping hundreds of abuse victims find safe haven, but it is not enough to meet the desperate need for resources across the state, so we are working to provide additional support.
