(no subject)
When I saw the sign-ups for 14valentines, I knew that I would pick to post on the day of Domestic Violence.
I am a victim of domestic violence. My father is and was an abusive alcoholic. It's taken years to work through most of the issues that go along with that and, more importantly, I'm still working through them.
But today's post is about more than me or even the victims that I know personally. Today is to raise awareness that anyone and anything can be a victim of domestic violence.
I've written a short story regarding one woman that was involved with a program at my work called Safe Haven. The program shelters animal victims of domestic violence while their humans seek out shelters and safe havens of their own. The first victim of domestic violence is, all too often, the family pet. By the time the cruelty is perfected on the animal, it is all too easy to turn that cruelty onto a person. Domestic violence shelters normally do not take animals, thus leaving the victim with the choice of leaving their pet alone with their abuser or staying with the abuser to protect their animal.
The first time he hits her, she is shocked and appalled. Her hand flies up to her cheek, cupping the throbbing flesh, as he sputters what he thinks is an apology. "It just happened" and "I didn't mean it" and "you shouldn't have said it" all pass his lips. She thinks, perhaps, maybe, he's right, he wouldn't mean it. He loves her and she had been a bit aggressive in her opinion when they'd been arguing.
The next time he hits her, she flinches, just a little bit, before flesh connects with flesh. She thinks, he didn't do that, did he? Surely I imagined that but her cheek is throbbing and then he's grabbing her arm. His grip is too hard and is sure to bruise as he tugs her into the bedroom. He's screaming, the words all blurring together. She's so fixated on the blood pooling in her cheek and the tight grip on her upper arm that she doesn't understand what he's saying until he's right in her face, berating her for folding his shirt wrong. When she protests his treatment, he screams at her that if she'd just fold his shirts properly, he wouldn't have to yell at her.
The third time he hits her, it's almost expected. She'd burnt dinner for the second time that week and, though money wasn't tight, it was still money down the drain. It isn't like money grows on trees or so he yells at her as his fist is swinging into her face. She deserves it, doesn't she? She was distracted by a show on the television and she was always distracted by something. She hates to think what would happen if he wasn't there to keep her focused.
It's when he throws her dog that she realizes that this might not be the healthiest situation. Her dog is a good dog, sits when he's told, stays and loves to prance about on his back paws. He'd only been walking past on his way to his bed when the foot came flying. Her dog goes flying like a football punted in a last ditch effort for a win. When he hits the wall, he yelps and whines. It's obvious that his leg is broken but he won't let her take him to the vet and get him checked.
After he goes to work, she calls in sick to her own job and takes her dog to the veterinarian. The vet's eyes are sad as she checks over the animal and the flinch and excuses are automatic when the vet's gaze takes in the bruises on both of them. A card is slipped into a hand and the vet refuses her money, just asking for payment in the seeking of help and nothing more.
She looks at the card and then looks at her dog. A Safe Haven is what she needs for both of them. A Safe Haven would protect them both.
~Fin~
This program is not unique to the Tucson area. These programs are spreading worldwide. As at every non-profit, donations and volunteers are desperately needed. Personally, even more poignant than the union of a new adopter and their animal is the reunion of a domestic violence victim with their animal.
I urge you to look into local opportunities for rescue, foster and rehabilitation of all victims of domestic violence. Ask your local animal shelter, humane society or rescue if they have a Safe Haven established.
Domestic Violence. There is no excuse for any abuse.
I am a victim of domestic violence. My father is and was an abusive alcoholic. It's taken years to work through most of the issues that go along with that and, more importantly, I'm still working through them.
But today's post is about more than me or even the victims that I know personally. Today is to raise awareness that anyone and anything can be a victim of domestic violence.
I've written a short story regarding one woman that was involved with a program at my work called Safe Haven. The program shelters animal victims of domestic violence while their humans seek out shelters and safe havens of their own. The first victim of domestic violence is, all too often, the family pet. By the time the cruelty is perfected on the animal, it is all too easy to turn that cruelty onto a person. Domestic violence shelters normally do not take animals, thus leaving the victim with the choice of leaving their pet alone with their abuser or staying with the abuser to protect their animal.
The first time he hits her, she is shocked and appalled. Her hand flies up to her cheek, cupping the throbbing flesh, as he sputters what he thinks is an apology. "It just happened" and "I didn't mean it" and "you shouldn't have said it" all pass his lips. She thinks, perhaps, maybe, he's right, he wouldn't mean it. He loves her and she had been a bit aggressive in her opinion when they'd been arguing.
The next time he hits her, she flinches, just a little bit, before flesh connects with flesh. She thinks, he didn't do that, did he? Surely I imagined that but her cheek is throbbing and then he's grabbing her arm. His grip is too hard and is sure to bruise as he tugs her into the bedroom. He's screaming, the words all blurring together. She's so fixated on the blood pooling in her cheek and the tight grip on her upper arm that she doesn't understand what he's saying until he's right in her face, berating her for folding his shirt wrong. When she protests his treatment, he screams at her that if she'd just fold his shirts properly, he wouldn't have to yell at her.
The third time he hits her, it's almost expected. She'd burnt dinner for the second time that week and, though money wasn't tight, it was still money down the drain. It isn't like money grows on trees or so he yells at her as his fist is swinging into her face. She deserves it, doesn't she? She was distracted by a show on the television and she was always distracted by something. She hates to think what would happen if he wasn't there to keep her focused.
It's when he throws her dog that she realizes that this might not be the healthiest situation. Her dog is a good dog, sits when he's told, stays and loves to prance about on his back paws. He'd only been walking past on his way to his bed when the foot came flying. Her dog goes flying like a football punted in a last ditch effort for a win. When he hits the wall, he yelps and whines. It's obvious that his leg is broken but he won't let her take him to the vet and get him checked.
After he goes to work, she calls in sick to her own job and takes her dog to the veterinarian. The vet's eyes are sad as she checks over the animal and the flinch and excuses are automatic when the vet's gaze takes in the bruises on both of them. A card is slipped into a hand and the vet refuses her money, just asking for payment in the seeking of help and nothing more.
She looks at the card and then looks at her dog. A Safe Haven is what she needs for both of them. A Safe Haven would protect them both.
~Fin~
This program is not unique to the Tucson area. These programs are spreading worldwide. As at every non-profit, donations and volunteers are desperately needed. Personally, even more poignant than the union of a new adopter and their animal is the reunion of a domestic violence victim with their animal.
I urge you to look into local opportunities for rescue, foster and rehabilitation of all victims of domestic violence. Ask your local animal shelter, humane society or rescue if they have a Safe Haven established.
Domestic Violence. There is no excuse for any abuse.