DA Honors San Diego Heroes

i was surprsed i received the award only m husband was supposed to get it!!

I was so proud to receive the Citizen of Courage Award but I believe the true award goes to the men and women who have the courage and strength to remove themselves from domestic violence situations. I am honored to work with these individuals as well as the staff at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. They are also heroes -- providing love and care for the animal victims of family violence.
Unfortunately family violence is an epidemic in this nation. In nearly three-fourths of American homes with school age children companion animals are also part of the family. A batterers fight for power and control does not differentiate between two legs or four. Pets in a disturbed family are tightly drawn into the entangled web of abuse.
Animals are often the first casualties of an abusive environment. Batterers will threaten, hurt or kill the family pet as a means of intimidation and control over other family members. An alarming number of clients sheltering pets in the Animal Safehouse Program say their animals were neglected, threatened or harmed. Incidences of kicking or choking the dog, throwing the cat against the wall and punching the dog are commonly heard.
As a community we should understand that whenever animal abuse has been discovered in a family, there is a real likelihood that the abuse extends to other family members as well. The coexistence of domestic violence, child and animal abuse must not be taken lightly.
Knowing that animals are also victims is not enough. We must protect them and learn from them. Recognizing the animal component in family violence and sharing this information with others are keys to ending the abuse. Throughout history, animals have unselfishly served humans. If we pay attention, they can help us to break the cycle of domestic violence. For more information on the award winning Animal Safehouse Program at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society visit www.rchumansociety.org .