In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I’m writing to bring attention to Act 146, a Pennsylvania law passed in 2024 that helps survivors get help sooner by protecting their pets from abusers.

Act 146 addresses the powerful role that animal abuse can play in domestic violence. In fact, 41% of domestic violence offenders have histories of animal cruelty, and 71% of women with pets entering shelters report that their abuser had harmed, killed or threatened a pet. As a result, it is common for survivors to delay leaving abusive situations out of fear for their pets’ safety.

While traditional protection from abuse (PFA) orders offer protection to victims by legally prohibiting abusers from contacting or coming near them, they didn’t include explicit legal protections for pets. Act 146 addresses this gap by allowing judges to include pets in PFAs. The law also allows for the removal of pets from the abuser’s residence and placing them under the temporary care and custody of the victim or a designated safe shelter.

The passage of Act 146 was the culmination of a multi-year campaign spearheaded by Humane Action Pennsylvania and a coalition of domestic violence organizations, animal welfare groups, children’s advocates and law enforcement agencies.

For more information on Act 146, visit Humane Action Pennsylvania: humaneactionpennsylvania.org.

Jessica Breen

Mt. Lebanon

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