RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE District Court 05-2-20 Office: 412-835-1661 Fax: 412-835-4060
Hiras Professional Building 2414 Lytle Rd #200 Bethel Park, PA 15102
The Link Between Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
I am a firm believer in protecting our furry friends, but unfortunately there are numerous cases of animal neglect, cruelty, failure to vaccinate/license, and take care of these animals. This article, with the assistance of Jennifer Thomas, Intern, Humane Action Pittsburgh, will look at these issues in our community. Animals are often chosen as soft targets because abusers believe that they can get away with it. Animal cruelty is a crime. All U.S. jurisdictions have prohibitions against animal maltreatment, and all 50 states declare some forms of animal abuse to be felonies. Police officers and criminal justice officials have a critical role to play when it comes to animal abuse, as this often exposes other forms of violence in the household. The numbers are staggering in the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, where an estimated one million animals are abused or killed each year in connection with domestic violence. With 71% of domestic violence cases, victims report that their abuser also targeted their pets. “Many survivors stay in an unsafe situation because they cannot take their animals with them to a shelter. 65% of women refuse or delay leaving an abusive home out of fear of leaving their pets or livestock behind.” (Phil Arkow, 2020) When it comes to animal abuse, education is key. Building awareness through community presentations, humane education
in schools, and training for professionals can help with the detection of animal abuse. Humane Action Pittsburgh (HAP) has created a directory for law enforcement, criminal justice officials, and residents to showcase the vast number of resources that Allegheny County offers. To see a list of these resources please visit: humaneactionpittsburgh.org. According to the Pennsylvania dog laws, all dogs three months or older must be licensed; licenses can be issued by the county treasurer. All dogs must be under control and must not be allowed to run at large. Dogs are personal property, and owners are responsible for damages caused by their dog. It is illegal to mistreat or abuse any animal, and violations should be reported to a local humane organization or the police. Rabies vaccinations are required for dogs and cats three months of age of older. Questions relating to dog laws, and licenses can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website at agriculture.pa.gov. To do our part as a community, if you see something or if you are having issues yourself, please reach out to the Humane Society, your respective police department, or animal control. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233(SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224(TTY). n The emergency and non-emergency number for animal control in Upper St. Clair is 412-833-7500.
State Representative Natalie Mihalek 40th Legislative District 724-942-2045
www.repmihalek.com
1121 Boyce Road, Suite 2200A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 Facebook.com/RepMihalek
A Thank You to Matthew Sometimes, today’s teens get a bad rap. For good or bad, they have never-ending access to information through technology. Between Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, information is delivered non-stop. How are teens, whose eyes seem to be more fixed on phone screens then the people in front of them, ever to process and reflect the world around them, as well as consider their own role in it? Can they—will they—make our world better? Or will they simply look for the next TikTok challenge? My concerns about such topics were somewhat answered when Matthew Bordenstein and his family contacted my district office. The Upper St. Clair family saw an ongoing need and wasted little time in finding a way to be part of the solution. For many families, literacy is a skill somewhat easily obtained. Our region is blessed with great schools and other resources that help children begin their education careers with one of the most important elements, the ability to comprehend the written word. Personally, I consider it one of the foundations of academic success and without it, students will struggle. But for other families, achieving the most basic reading skills is a challenge. This could certainly be the case for families who legally seek to make our great country their new home. And this is where Matthew sought to make a difference. Partnering with the South Hills Interfaith Movement and Hello Neighbor, Matthew and his family recognized that the gift of literacy 12
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Fall 2022
will go a long way for families who are pursuing occupational, financial, and academic success. The Bordensteins understand that if children have access to age-appropriate literature, there is a better chance that they will be committed later to lifelong learning, thereby better assisting them in achieving the American dream. As such, Matthew became the first Pittsburgh-based volunteer to work with Bookworm Global, whose mission is to collect and redistribute early-age reading books. Upon hearing of his efforts, I offered my district office as a drop-off point. While I am not surprised by the number of book donations that were made by our friends and neighbors, I am certainly thankful. Through Matthew’s efforts, thousands of books will be distributed to local families and their children. Compassion and selflessness are practiced in different ways, but one truth is that it takes a special person to identify ways to help people who they have yet to meet. It is particularly inspiring when that selflessness comes from a teenager. Thank you, Matthew, for being more concerned with your fellow man and woman than with whatever the next social media fad may be. n
