Feature photo by Lillian Chapman
Story by Lillian Chapman
The June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students brought attention to animals in abusive households and how to help them on Oct. 17 for domestic violence awareness month at MTSU.
Partnering with Nashville Therapy Pets, Maigan Wipfli, the director of the JAC, recognized Purple Thursday, National Domestic Violence Awareness Day. Using therapy dogs, Wipfli encouraged students to learn more about the concerns with domestic abuse and how many people often abuse pets in those situations as well.
“Our students love seeing the therapy pets out on campus because most of them don’t have pets at home or if they’re living in the residents’ halls or in their apartments,” Wipfli said. “They don’t have their pets with them so this is just a little day brightener.”
Pets Against Violence offered information on how to help someone who is in an abusive household by offering support and aid when needed. Abusers often use pets as leverage against abuse victims, and the pets suffer the same form of abuse. Many victims do not want to leave their beloved pets in that situation and cannot find a safe way to get out.
The event advertised information about Tennessee resource centers for people and pets in abusive homes such as Abbie’s Safe Home and Red Rover, a part of the Purple Leash Project. The resource centers provide safe temporary homes for pets and their guardians who are leaving an abusive situation.
Lillian Chapman is a reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
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