Law, College of
Nebraska Law Bulletin (Selected Issues)
Date of this Version
8-8-2022
Document Type
Article
Citation
Nebraska Law Bulletin (August 8, 2022)
Abstract
It is now well-understood that there is a link between violence toward animals and community-involved violence. And abusers typically escalate their abuse as it goes on. Unfortunately, abuse victims frequently stay within the confines of their relationship out of fear, especially when pets are involved. Protection orders are effective at protecting abuse victims, and their pets, from abusers.
Pets play a unique role in our lives and the law. Pets need to be expressly accounted for within protection order statutes. Half-measures, such as relying on a catch-all provision or updating protection order forms, are not enough. Currently, Nebraska’s protection order statutes do not include pets within their protection orders, we rely on these half-measures. This must change. Other states have been moved by the statistics and the moving testimony of witnesses and advocates. Nebraska must follow.
Comments
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