S.C. bill protects pets if couples clash

[Are_grits_groceries]

When a Florence woman refused to give in to her husband’s demands for money or sex, he would threaten to kill her pet chihuahua.

“I believed he’d kill the dog if I didn’t do what he said. He hated the dog. He’d kick her,” she said. “I didn’t want the dog to get hurt and I didn’t want to get hurt either, so I’d give in.”

The threats, along with physical abuse, kept the woman from escaping a marriage she knew was unhealthy. (The State is withholding the name of the victim for her protection.)

A bill that a panel of House lawmakers will take up soon aims to change that.

Under the bill, abused women seeking temporary restraining orders against abusive husbands, boyfriends and fathers of their children could ask a Family Court judge for custody of a pet, even if the abuser owns the pet.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/717558.html

Well, if they can't do anything else, I hope they pass this!