PHOTOS: Peters Stops in Walker on Day 5 of 10th and Final Motorcycle Tour

WALKER, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) toured the Humane Society of West Michigan in Walker during his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan. Peters highlighted the need to reauthorize his Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act that helps protect domestic violence survivors and their pets. The PAWS Act grant program provides funding to facilities that harbor survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence, along with their pets, as well as the animal shelters that partner with domestic violence service providers. Since the grant program was first funded, there has consistently been high demand for PAWS funding. Peters is now leading the effort to protect federal funding for the program by reauthorizing $3 million for the program annually over the next four years.

"Domestic violence is sadly an issue that is all too prevalent in our communities. Unfortunately, we know that in cases of abuse, pets are likely to also become targets, and that abusers will use violence against animals to exert control over their victims." said Senator Peters. "To me, it's simple: protecting the PAWS Act means protecting survivors and protecting their pets. That's why I'm now fighting to extend funding for the program and ensure these resources remain available for shelters in Michigan and across the country."

During the event, Peters learned how Humane Society of West Michigan assists victims of domestic violence through its Providing Emergency Temporary Shelter (PETS) Network, a program that accepts pets affected by a number of situations, including in cases of domestic violence.

"Victims of domestic violence are often put in the position of having to make an impossible choice between protecting their own life or their pet's," said Eric Messing, Executive Director of Humane Society of West Michigan. "That's why Humane Society of West Michigan is dedicated to providing safe foster homes for these pets and helping victims feel empowered to leave abusive situations. We thank Senator Peters for leading the PAWS Act to support programs like ours that help protect both victims and their four-legged family members from domestic violence."

"I appreciated having the chance to tell Senator Peters about our PETS Program, a service that can often make the difference between a victim staying in an abusive situation, or seeking out the care they need," said Ashley Dahl, Humane Society of West Michigan Director of Community Programs. "We thank Senator Peters for coming here to see our work firsthand and appreciate his continued commitment to the protection of domestic violence survivors and their pets."

"When a victim is deciding whether or not to get the help they need, making sure they can find a safe home for their pet is often a key factor in the process," Dr. Nikia Belcher - VP of Crisis Services and Community Programs at YWCA West Central Michigan. "We are proud of our partnership with the Humane Society of West Michigan, which helps connect victims with the resources they need to protect their pets. Thank you to Senator Peters for your efforts to reauthorize the PAWS Act, and for being here today to highlight this important issue."

To view photos from Senator Peters' stop in Walker, click HERE.

Research has shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate victims by threatening or harming their pets - with one study finding that up to 84 percent of women entering domestic violence shelters reported their partners had threatened, abused, or killed the family pet. Moreover, nearly half of survivors reported having stayed with their abuser due to fear over what would happen to their pet.

Currently, most domestic violence shelters are not equipped to accommodate pets. The Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program - created by Peters' PAWS Act - helps address this gap by providing support to ensure shelters and transitional housing services can accommodate victims of domestic violence and their companion animals. The PAWS Act also expanded existing federal domestic violence protections to include threats or acts of violence against a survivor's pet. The law requires the full amount of the survivor's losses for purposes of restitution in domestic violence and stalking offenses to include any costs incurred for veterinary services relating to physical care for the survivor's pet.

Protecting animal welfare is something that Peters has long made a priority. In 2022, he introduced the Planning for Animal Wellness Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law. This law helps protect pets and other animals during and in the aftermath of natural disasters by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish an advisory group to offer guidance regarding animal welfare in federal disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Peters is also leading bipartisan legislation to help us better understand and respond to the connection between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. Peters' Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of (AVERT) Future Violence Act would commission a Justice Department study to assess the link between acts of animal cruelty and future violence against others, such as domestic violence and gun violence, and authorize a grant program to support mental health experts, law enforcement, and animal welfare organizations in their efforts to stop animal cruelty and rehabilitate offenders.

Peters - an avid and longtime motorcycle rider - kicked off his "Thank you, Michigan" tour in Bay City. He then made stops in Alpena, Marquette, and Traverse City, before he will make stops in Grand Rapids and East Lansing. He will ride more than 1,000 miles across the state on this year's tour - which is Peters' 10^th and last official motorcycle tour.

"I've always said the best way to travel across our state is on a motorcycle," Peters said. "Representing Michigan in the U.S. Senate has been the absolute honor of my lifetime. So, this year's tour is about saying thank you to all of the amazing people and communities I've been able to partner with during my career to help make Michigan an amazing place to work, live, and raise a family."

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