The Oklahoma Bar Journal March 2024

which was a part of a larger pat tern of assaultive, coercive, and controlling behavior, occurred.” Neither the Oklahoma courts nor the Legislature have specifically addressed the issue of whether animal cruelty could be a crime of domestic violence. However, the Oklahoma Legislature appears to recognize the link between domes tic violence and animal cruelty in its inclusion of them in VPOs. 21 It appears reasonable, even possible, that Oklahoma could also judicially recognize that a person can be a vic tim of a crime of domestic violence if their pet/livestock is subjected to acts of animal cruelty to cause the person harm. PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO CREATE AND AID FOSTER PROGRAMS AND SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES As discussed earlier, the need for safe places for victims of domestic violence with pets is great, but where are they to go? Only a small number of domestic violence shelters currently pro vide shelter for animals, and they are usually always at or beyond capacity. For example, in 2023, the Animal Advocacy Program (AAP) (a partnership between Palomar: Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center and the Oklahoma Humane Society) served 362 peo ple and 843 animals in Oklahoma City. Last year, with the aid of AAP, 89 animals were fostered, 53 animals were surrendered, and there were 555 pet pantry visits. What about those who are located elsewhere in the state and who have waited for or are still waiting for a safe place to escape? Animal rescues and foster programs can help fill the void, and legal services are vital for their

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON OKLAHOMA LAWS AND BUILD A LIBRARY OF RESOURCES Based upon the staggering statistics, it is extremely likely that you know someone experiencing domestic violence and animal abuse, though they may not have directly revealed such to you. Do you know how to report suspected abuse? Are you aware of local and nonlocal resources of aid? Here are a few ways you can educate yourself and your law practice and a few resources for you to bookmark. Join the OBA’s Animal Law Section (and other states’ animal law sections) Join the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee Attend the 32nd annual Animal Law Conference in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 11-13, www.animallawconference.org Books and Bookmarks Guide to Representing Animal Protection Organizations , Daina Bray and Yolanda Eisenstein, published by the American Bar Association, Business Law Section https://saavprogram.org: an in-depth resource guide for start ing a shelter program for the pets of domestic abuse victims, including sample forms https://bit.ly/3SKspvz: This webpage has information on report ing abuse for all 77 counties in Oklahoma, as well as links to resources in other states. https://redrover.org/relief-dv: The RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant program helps families with pets safely escape domestic violence together. Funding is mainly provided to help with the cost of temporary pet boarding while a client is in a domestic violence shelter. www.domesticshelters.org: This website locates domestic shelters that offer a pet program. See if there are any in your area. www.safehavensforpets.org: This website locates animal orga nizations that provide boarding or fostering for pets, as well as domestic violence shelters that offer a pet program. https://palomarokc.org/animal-advocacy-program: The Oklahoma Humane Society and Palomar have partnered to create the Animal Advocacy Program to help domestic vio lence victims who are fleeing and have pets.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL