TGIF !!!!
October has arrived and with it the Month of Domestic Violence Awareness. This is a topic that is very close to my heart as I am a lucky survivor.
I am one of the lucky ones that managed to get away with my little dog, hid at a friend and then moved to a new city where we were both helped. If I had left her I know my ex would have carried on abusing her so the minute I could we ran.
Baby since has passed away, but she was my inspiration, my hero, my trooper and my lifeline through those dark days, and when she passed from IMHA, was when I was finally in my own home so she knew I was safe, and could then open my doors to a new pup, and Layla arrived to live with me. Layla wears a tag that says: Shelter Survivor which speaks for both of us.
Today I am not going to talk about me, but “The Power and Control Wheel” of Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence. This gives us a better understanding as to what happens behind closed doors, and why so many victims stay in the relationships.
An abuser will want to control everything, and if he or she does not have that, we, the humans, kids or pets become the victims of his or her anger, although he/she will never admit it.
So when people reach out and talk about wanting to leave a Domestic Violence relationship but cannot leave their pets, these are some of the reasons and I from experience would have rather carried on suffering the abuse to make sure Baby was safe, than left her in a house where she would suffer.
Pets do not understand abuse the way we do and they should not have to suffer at the hands of an abuser of any kind as they give us the unconditional love and loyalty that unfortunately humans do not do.
October is also the National Month of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month so reach out to a Shelter and give a dog a new home, as I always say about Layla – from pound to princess.
Be safe, have a wonderful week, with a woof of love from
Layla
Animal abuse and domestic violence is just pure evil, we’ll never understand it. Both are bad here in the South. I’m so glad you got away. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Brian thank you for your comment and yes I am blessed. Thank you for your Thankful Thursday Blog which was for me perfect this week.
Abuse is awful. I know the cycle. Humans and our babies should be treated with respect and love.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. My best to your mom. ♥
Thank you Sandee and we need to speak up for those that cannot as getting the word out will save others. Have a wonderful safe week also
Such a powerful post. It breaks my heart that the two of you lived through that and it raises my spirits to see how much you both overcame. Then, you advocate! Bless you.
Andee I am blessed to have got away and now being able to advocate for others as we all need to as abuse is pure evil
Abuse, both domestic and animal, is a horrendous thing and my heart goes out to you for what you’ve been through and I admire that you advocate for others. You’re amazing. I am Pinning this to share, and send giant hugs to you. And gentle huggies to beautiful Miss Layla, too! xoxo
Dorothy thank you for pinning and helping me get the word out, I am blessed to be free and have beautiful Layla by my side today, who keeps me on my toes.
Thank you for bringing awareness to this and sharing your story. Abuse in any form is horrible, and I’m glad you are now away, safe and able to share & inspire others.
Thank you Nikki for your kind words, and I cannot keep quiet as speaking out hopefully will help others and I pray abuse of all forms will stop
What a story! I’m so happy that you and Baby made it out safely. How sweet that she made sure you were safe and then allowed Layla to come take care of you.
This is such an important article. You did such a great job explaining why a person being abused might stay, which often isn’t understood.
I applaud you for your courage! You’re an inspiration!
Terri you are so right, there are so many people in this world that do not understand why victims stay in the relationship and how hard it is to get away, that
we need to explain, speak out and let them know they are not alone. Thank you
Here in New Zealand there are positive steps being taken to keep families and pets together, or at least keeping the pet safe until they can rejoin the family. This is a grain of good news on this month when we remember the victims of domestic violence and the manipulation and evil that they suffer.
Domestic violence is an evil power game with no winners.
Marjorie I am so pleased to hear what they are doing in New Zealand and it should happen all over the world but I must say in the States they are slowly
doing it also phew. Domestic Violence is pure evil and it needs to stop
I am so glad that you and Baby escaped your abuser and that Layla gets to live the life of a princess now.
I think Marjorie said it best, “domestic violence is an evil power game with no winners.”
Beth there are no winners in Domestic Violence although in my eyes the winners are the victims that do manage to get away and start a healthy new life.