VioPet implementation in Spain

• In Event: Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: Victim Background, Response, and Service Use

Abstract

VioPet Program, a project of Observatorio de Violencia Hacia los Animales, is a partner of SAF-T, a US-based program that has developed a manual as a step‐by‐step guide to assist domestic violence shelters in building external kennels, converting interior spaces to animal housing areas, or allowing residents to keep family pets in their rooms. SAF-T & VioPet aim to prevent animals from becoming objects of revenge or control over the partner and children, and to enable those living under this abuse to escape. Spain, however, lacks pet protection order laws that enable judges to include animals in protection-from-abuse orders and no women's shelters in the nation allow residential pets to accompany survivors. Several animal protection organizations scattered throughout Spain shelter and maintain these animals, ensuring maximum confidentiality and privacy for the victims and security to prevent the abusers from reclaiming the animals. In the past 6 months, 4 municipalities (Arrecife, St. Cugat, Ripollet and Zaragoza) have officially committed to implement VioPet and is already part of the internal law-enforcement protocols to assists IPV victims in Arrecife, Polinyà, Fuenlabrada, Castelló and Torres de la Alameda.

Authors

• Nuria Querol, Crime Behaviour Analysis Unit, Law School, Univ. Barcelona

• Sara Cervello, Grafo Formacion

• Shaila Villar, Sociedad Española de Criminología

• Patricia Perez, Sociedad Española de Criminología

• Allie Phillips, Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)

• Frank Ascione, Denver University