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Show Thursday, December 23, 1999 Messenger-Enterpris- Page 6 e Battered women value their pets By Diane O. Hendrickson, MS New Horizons Crisis Center RapeSexual Assault Program Manager For years, researchers have documented the link between cruelty toward animals and violence against women and children. The basic premise: how people treat pets is often an indicator of how they will - and do - treat people. An abused pet can often be the first sign of trouble. Many women suffer prolonged abuse because they feel they must protect their pets. Take the example of Amanda and her puppy, Jordan. After a year and a half of being kicked, and threatened by her live-i- n boyfriend and seeing her pets abused too - Amanda had fled. Shed hastily gathered up Jordan and driven ,000 miles nonstop to pum-mele- d, - 1 a city where some friends lived. But now, in the dead of night, she hesitated to ask those friends for help; the abuser might find and threaten them too. And the only Sanpete County has share of auto crashes Sanpete County experienced their share of crashes throughout the week, three on Saturday, December 1 8th. Fortunately none of these crashes were severe. Zachary Proctor, 23, Salt Lake City, received minor injuries when he collided with a cow on US89 north of Fairview on December 15, at 7 p.m. He and his passenger, Andrew' Patten, 25, were both wearing seat belts and injuries were minor. The vehicle was towed from the scene. Trooper Bruce Turner investigated. The first injury crash on Saturday was investigated by Trooper Kevin Bradshaw on SRI 16, one mile east of Moroni at 9:30 a.m. Jay Jackson, 26, fell asleep and allowed his vehicle to drift into an oncoming vehicle driven by Lisa Navarrette, 4 1 , Mt. Pleasant. Both drivers were restrained and their air bags deployed. Ms. Navarrette was injured, Mr. Jackson was not. Two children in the Jackson ve- hicle were restrained, however, they both did sustain minor inju ries. Victims were transported to the Sanpete Valley Hospital and both vehicles were towed. Mr. Jackson was cited for improper lane travel. Trooper Ken Pitts investigated the second crash at 2:58 p.m. on US89, five miles north of Ephraim involving Bernard Mutie, 21, Salt Lake City. Mr. Mutie rolled his vehicle one and one-ha- lf times, injuring himself and two passengers, Amram Musungo, 28, Salt Lake City, and Robert Midvale. The victims ported to the Sanpete pital. Seat belts were Kagabo, 27, were trans- Valley Hosworn by all occupants and the vehicle was towed. The third one at 6:40 p.m. involved Sarah Larson, 23, Spring City, who was injured when she rolled her vehicle on US89, north of Fairview. She was transported to the Sanpete Valley Hospital and the vehicle towed. She was wearing a seat belt. Trooper Ken Pitts investigated. M avenue open to her - local3, womens shelters - told her that she couldnt bring Jordan. One shelter worker suggested that Amanda surrender the puppy to the local pound and concentrate on saving her own life. But Jordan was the onl sense of security and stability had, Amanda recalls. I couldnt give him up. 1 Many battered women are just as devoted to their pets as Amanda was to Jordan. Abusive men often try to isolate their victims from other people. The batterer is often the womans sole source of human contact, but hes definitely not a source of love and comfort. The source of unconditional love that a battered woman may not get from anywhere else. pet is a rely on networks of providers - foster-car- e generally private homes or kennels - to temporarily house battered womens pets. Several national groups have launched campaigns aimed at broadening awareness of how family pets are often the first victims of domestic violence. All these efforts are making it easier for women to leave their abusers, begin new lives, and keep their pets with them. The American Humane Associations Campaign Against Violence operates a resource center for people interested in learning more about the link between violence to animals and violence to people information is available at the groups Web Site: www.americanhumane.org. Ironically, that love and devoIf you are interested in becomAll her. too tion can work against in this effort locally, involved ing often, a batterer uses a womans call Horizons Crisis New feelings for her pet to force her to please (435)896-929comply wdth his wishes or to keep Center her from leaving him. When Utah State University sociologist Frank Ascione, Ph.D., surveyed 37 women w;ho entered one Utah womens shelter, more than two out of three respondents told him that their partners had harmed their pets or threatened to do so. Some w'omen do try to protect their pets by finding another home for them. Other cm Full Service Restaurant Plus Bowling, Pool, Video Games, Tanning Beds Great outside catering! Drive 4. pet-owni- From w'omen, however, choose to stay with their partners so that they can protect their pets or because they cant bear to give up their animals. Merrill Local research bears this out. When Dr. Ascione surveyed 101 battered women at five Utah shelters, he found that nearly one in &the gang at four w'omen had delayed coming to a shelter - sometimes for many months - because they were so D Land Title concerned about the safety of their pets. To correct this situation, community groups alt ovef the U.S. have forged paUnerships designed to help both women and pets escape from abusive homes and rebuild their lives. Some women's groups work with animal shelters to house a battered womans pets for up to a month until she finds alternate housing. Other programs TUN IN I wish uou a Ghiiitmai... 0 Christmas JKusic all Jay lony Ghrisimas Cue anrf Christmas 2)zy from the largest hofiJay music library in the state ! OflM May you be found with those you love this holiday season. from your friends at D YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR SPORTS IN SANPETE! BYU Basketball Snow College Basketball Manti High School Gunnison High School North Sanpete High School POOR |