Home Sweet Home should be Home Sweet Home 24/7

Domestic violence is when a coward takes our his or her frustrations on a living being that is smaller, younger, older or more helpless. Domestic violence is perpetrated by the ignorant and weak in order to feel in control and emboldened. Confucius Cat is, again, putting his best paw forward and sponsoring international awareness of this cowardly act directed at the small, helpless and weak. Please stop by his place and let him know that you believe in his cause.

You might think that domestic violence is not a cat issue or a dog issue or an animal issue and you couldn't be more WRONG! Often the family pet will be the first victim to feel the pain or homelessness or to lose its life so that the perpetrator can show to his or her intended victim the power of anger and what may happen if they do not buckle down and obey the rules.

It is important to remember that while most victims of domestic violence are women—and these women are certainly victims—not all abuse is by men toward women. It is important to remember that there are six types of cases covered by statute, and that all six occur on the docket almost every order of protection day.

• Men who commit violence against women.
  
• Women who commit violence against men.
  
• Men who commit violence against other men, including in homosexual relationships.
  
• Women who commit violence against other women, including in lesbian relationships.
  
• Adults who commit violence against children.
  
• Adults who commit violence against elders.

• Week eleven’s appointed time is Sunday, August 23, 2009.
• Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 12:00 p.m. EDT (U.S.) which is 5:00 p.m. (17:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.
• The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.

Where we live. Where we work. Those are supposed to be the safe places in life. Hitting, screaming, shoving, pushing, intimidating, threatening, throwing objects, slamming doors, throwing food - all are considered to be domestic violence when done in anger and when directed at a living being.

Only a coward is an abuser. The real hero is the victim of domestic violence who has the courage to leave the situation and that hero needs YOUR support! In our town we have a domestic violence shelter AND our local no-kill animal shelter will house and care for family pets until the hero finds adequate housing of her (or his) own away from the shelter. All they ask in return is volunteer hours: walking dogs, cleaning cats, brushing dogs and cats and, if they are able, donations of cat litter and pet food. So, don't just get all riled up about this issue - do something!

Just like the bill before our Federal government (Saturday's post) for tax relief regarding animal care - everyone thinks that is a good thing - but how many folks will really contact the powers-that-be to support the legislature? You can't keep doing nothing and expect change.