MEDINA, Ohio – February is Abuse Awareness Month. And to that end, three Medina County non-profit agencies that work with victims of abuse are encouraging the community to keeps its eyes open.
In 2016, the Children’s Center of Medina County received more than 2,000 calls about suspected child abuse. Each year, cases are opened on about 500 families.
More than 80 people sought protective shelter for almost 4,000 nights at the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties. About 1,000 court cases related to domestic violence are opened each year.
And the Medina County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) received 1,100 calls about suspected animal abuse or neglect last year.
“That number is huge and it keeps rising,” said the SPCA’s Sandra Jenkins, who said each call is investigated by the agency’s humane officer.
Rhonda Wurgler, executive director of the Children’s Center, said there are links between cruelty to animals and human violence.
“Well-documented research shows that violent offenders frequently have a childhood and/or adolescent history of animal abuse,” she said.
“It also shows that it is often in connection with child abuse, family violence, spouse abuse and elder abuse,” she said.
“Where serious animal abuse has occurred in a household, there may be an increased likelihood that some other form of family violence is also occurring, and that any children present may also be at increased risk of abuse,” she said.
All three of the Medina County agencies have seen that troubling trend in the course of their work with abuse victims.
Last year, they came together in February for their first annual “Any Abuse Affects All” awareness campaign.
“We saw great success last year and want to continue that this year,” said Anne Face, director of services at the Battered Women’s Shelter.
The three agencies take the month of February to get the word out about the prevalence of abuse, signs to look for and information about where to report abuse or seek help.
They plan to speak to one or two community groups a week this month and meet with school and law enforcement officials to share information.
“In doing this together, we find that we shine brighter,” Face said.
“Any being can be a victim of abuse,” Wurgler added. “These victims are pets, they’re adults, they’re children.”
Face said the groups want to broaden awareness in the community, so that they can be stronger in fighting abuse and helping victims.
The specter of animal abuse looms large in households where there is also child abuse or violence against spouses and intimate partners, she said.
“In some situations, acts of animal abuse may be used to persuade, control and intimidate adult and child victims to remain silent about the violence,” she said.
And some victims won’t leave an abusive home if they have to leave their pets behind.
“Animals are often pawns in the power game. It’s a very, very real barrier. (Pets) are family,” Face said.
“If you think of a children, they want to protect their family, and that pet is part of the family,” Wurgler said.
Jenkins says the SPCA can take pets temporarily while victims seek shelter and support in getting back on their feet. She said the goal is to reunite those pets with their families.
The women said it’s important that the community understands that abuse is a serious problem here.
“The key is that we want to get it out there that abuse is happening in Medina County,” Wurgler said.
And if people see something, they should say something.
“It’s better to make that call than to regret it if something happens to that child, that pet, that adult living there,” Wurgler said.
“You don’t have to have proof. That’s the professionals’ job,” she said.
Anyone who suspects abuse can call the police or one of the agencies. Their hotline numbers are:
* Child Abuse Hotline – 330-661-0800
* Domestic violence 24-hour Crisis Hotline – 877-414-1344
* SPCA – 330-723-7722
“If we can bring awareness to Medina County, everyone will be looking for signs so we can prevent this from even starting,” Jenkins said.
Wurgler said the goal is to reduce the number of abuse cases in the county.
“Our goal is to get that number down. There should be zero abuse,” she said.
The community also can support these three non-profit agencies through monetary donations or volunteering.
One simple way to offer support is by collecting the following items that benefit all three groups: Paper towels, bleach, toilet paper, disinfectant wipes and sprays, Lysol, trash bags (all sizes), hand sanitizer, soap and tissues.
To donate, contact the agencies for drop-off information: The Children’s Center, 330-764-8891; the Battered Women’s Shelter, 330-723-9610; and the SPCA, 330-723-7722.
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