The current State Laws of Florida do not include "Pets" in legislation against Domestic Violence.  

Between 25% and 40% of women living in violence will stay in abusive situations to protect their family pets from further injury or death.

71% of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals.

Twenty-one other U.S. States have already enacted legislation to include animals in protective laws.  The list of states can be found at http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusdomesticviolencelaws.htm

In July of this previous year, Senator Mike Fasano (R), Senator Nan H. Rich (D), and Senator Don Gaetz (R) introduced a general bill titled "Domestic Violence Against Family Pets" that proposed redefining the term "domestic violence" to include "inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury against an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by one family or household member by another family or household member."  The Bill did not meet the required amount of approval votes to pass from the Criminal Justice Committee to the Senate Floor.  

Florida State Senators- please enact this necessary legislation to include Pets in Domestic Violence Protective Florida Statutes.

Animal Safehouse of Brevard forms a network of foster families in Central Florida to provide homes for pets of domestic violence survivors until they can be reunited in a safe living environment.  Learn more or Support at AnimalSafehouseBrevard.org