Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance funds the People and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a non-profit agency helping to coordinate the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence 's initiative to strengthen linkages between the animal welfare and family violence communities. It is a continuation of Council's commitment to end family violence, whether taking the form of domestic violence, child abuse or animal cruetly. PAWS facilitates a multi-disciplinary response by increasing awareness and cross-training animal welfare, child welfare, and domestic violence professionals in how to team up to prevent, detect and effectively respond to all types of violence in the home. This initiative improves services to all the victims of abuse and leads to quicker intervention in the hopes of ultimately ending a cycle of violence that often develops if left unchecked. As victims of violence grow to adulthood, they often replicate the violent behavior experienced as youths. As well, perpetrators of violence sometimes accelerate abusive behavior, changing the target of abuse from pets to humans.
These Council funds primarily provide safe haven services for pets that are the target of abuse.
This program follows on the heels of City Council's funding the Capital Area Humane Society annually at $25,000 beginning in 2003 to support animal cruelty investor services. Similarly, that action recognized the connection between animal violence and violence to children and spousal abuse.
Title
To authorize and direct the appropriation of $86,000 within the Public Safety Initiatives Fund and to authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter into contract with the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence for the purpose of effecting a multi-disciplinary response to the prevention of family violence, continuing Council's support for domestic violence initiatives, to authorize the expenditure of $86,000, and to declare an emergency ($86,000.00)
Body
WHEREA...
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