Domestic abuse protection extended to pets

Last month, Maine approved the nation's first law designed to protect the pets of domestic abuse victims. The new legislation gives judges the power to include pets on a protection from abuse order. One in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in her lifetime. In 85% of the households where domestic violence occurs, an animal is also abused (more on the human-animal abuse connection). Massachusetts, Ohio, Minnesota, and probably other states have programs that offer pet care to victims of domestic abuse, but Maine is the first state to put animal protection into law.