“Little Horatio,” whose name has been changed to protect him and his family, has endured beatings so brutal that he will forever have to wear goggles to protect him from bright sunlight. His abuser? The son of his former elderly owner, who brutalized him to manipulate her. 

Thankfully, the human domestic violence victim managed to escape her son and tormenter, and more miraculous still, she managed to rescue Little Horatio from him, too. She is now living with her other children who had no idea what was happening, and her dog is now living with Kathy Cornwell, a victim advocate for the Pinellas-Pasco Area Agency on Aging.

But the experience inpired Ms. Cornwell to approach Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) and encourage him to file a proposal that would protect canine victims of domestic violence in Florida. It would not only include physically tormenting the pet of a household or family member as an act of domestic violence, but threatening to harm or kill the pet as well. Then, victims would be able to file an injunction with the court, which could potentially prevent the abuser from gaining custody of the pet or even approaching within a specified distance of it. 

Harming, killing, or threatening a pet is “one of the strongest manipulative tools of intimidation and anger," said Jane Occhiolini, a friend of Ms. Cornwell’s and retired victim advocate as well. “This is the kind of thing we're trying to fight."

And a worthy fight it is. According to Tampa Bay Online, Senator Fasano is still looking for a House sponsor for the bill. Tell the Florida legislature that animal and human victims of domestic violence need their support. 

Photo credit: panli54