(02/05/2019) - The Essexville Department of Public Safety is launching a program to provide emergency housing for pets whose owners are victims of domestic violence.
The move, in response to Senator Gary Peters "Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act" that was recently signed into law as a part of the 2018 Farm Bill.
As early as next week, Chief William Gutzwiller hopes to use space inside this heated fire department garage, here at at City Hall, as an area to safely take care of pets whose owners are victims of domestic violence.
"Domestic violence is trauma in itself," Gutzwiller said, "we want to help ease that burden on the victim of domestic violence by assuring that their loved one, being a pet in the household, is taken care of as well."
Gutzwiller is creating a safe space for dogs and cats. Donated crates have already started to arrive.
Right now, the only option for those trying to leave a domestic violence situation on short notice is calling Animal Control.
The Chief talks about how he himself promised a victim he would wait until a relative arrived to care for the victim's pets as an example of how important providing assurance is:
"I have sat at a residence for two hours, waiting for a relative to arrive at the residence to take care of the animals at the residence," he said, "I reassured the victim in this case that I would do that. Now it's tied up an officer for two hours."
And that's an asset he cannot afford to have at his disposal.
The Bay Area Women's Shelter is also a part of this initiative:
"Statistically, often a victim stays in an unhealthy relationship for two years longer because they're scared about what will happen to their pet," said Executive Director Jeremy Rick.
"Assailants are very manipulative, they will often use the pet as a threat like 'you want to leave me, OK, but I'm going to kill your pug--they will stay in that relationship because they want to protect their pet."
The Bay County Humane Society will use money from it's PAW fund - set up to care for animals in abusive situations --to help pay for supplies:
"Some of the animals that he will take in, are in a situation of domestic violence, and the animal has to be removed to protect it," said Jeannie Wolicki-Nichols, the President of the Bay County Humane Society.
While the details are still being finalized, the Chief says this just makes sense:
"There's no reason why we shouldn't be doing this, we have the accomodation to accomodate, we're already getting the donations in, so it won't be anything out of taxpayer money to cover this, so it's perfect."
The new program will offer the pets temporary housing until the animals can be picked up by a family member or friend who can care for them.
The program will also assist officers who may locate pets that have escaped households.