Battered Women and Their Pets

My son sent me a story that was gut-wrenching on many levels. It was about a Great Dane who threw itself on top of his mistress when she was being beaten with a hammer and ultimately saved her life. Here's the link if you'd like to read the story: http://www.takepart.com/blog-series/paw-and-order/2012/01/17/great-dane-saves-woman-vicious-beating#.T3G25Dh8yiQ.email.
Its hard to believe that some women live in fear of their life from the person who has sworn to love and protect them. Unfortunately, its only too true.
Nearly, forty percent of battered women stay in the situation they're in because they refuse to leave their pets.
Some women live in their cars because they can't take their animals with them to safe houses.
Over seventy percent of abused women have had pets maimed or killed by their abuser.
There are no race, age, or financial boundaries when it comes to abuse. Halle Berry, Madonna, Carol King and Tina Turner have been in abusive situations.
Nearly four million women are beaten each year by their significant other.
Nearly forty-five percent of women who are beaten are beaten during pregnancy.
The average prison sentence for men who kill their significant other is less than seven years.
Every fifteen seconds a woman in the U.S. is battered.
In the United States, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury for women in their teens through middle age.
Abuse normally increases and becomes more violent.
After the Great Dane incident, The Rose Shelter decided to add seven kennels so that more abused women could bring their pets when looking for a safe house.
*If you're interested in making a donation, the link can be found in the article noted above.