Help Pass Duke’s Law to Protect Animal Victims of Domestic Violence

Introduction:The concept of intersectionality, coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, provides a crucial lens through which to understand the complexities of vulnerability. It highlights how va…

Help Pass Duke’s Law to Protect Animal Victims of Domestic Violence

When we think about domestic violence, our minds often turn to the human victims — and rightly so. But too often, the silent victims of abuse are forgotten: the family pets. Research has shown a deeply troubling link between animal abuse and violence towards people, particularly intimate partners and children. It’s time for stronger laws to recognize and address this connection.

Introduction: A Dog Named Duke and the System That Failed HimOn February 7, 2021, Duke, a beloved neighborhood dog in La Pine, Oregon, was shot and killed simply for barking. His death was not an isolated tragedy but the beginning of a horrifying pattern of violence that escalated to threats against children, arson, and psychological terror. Duke’s killer, Derek Franzen, faced no consequences—not for Duke’s death, nor for the seven other animals he tortured, nor for the children he traumatized.

Abusers who target children and animals share a core trait: they prey on the powerless. The lack of consequences for animal cruelty emboldens them to escalate.” Dr. Barbara Boat, University of Cincinnati Child Abuse Research Team Systemic Barriers & Duke’s Law The case of Derek Franzen exposes how institutional failures perpetuate cycles of violence against both humans and animals. Below, we dissect the systemic flaws and detail how Duke’s Law would dismantle them.

Introduction Domestic violence is often portrayed as a crime that happens behind closed doors, hidden from public view. But what happens when the violence spills over to the most vulnerable and voi…

IntroductionDomestic violence is often portrayed as a crime that happens behind closed doors, hidden from public view. But what happens when the violence spills over to the most vulnerable and voiceless members of a household—the pets? For years, Derek Franzen of La Pine, Oregon, has terrorized not just his human victims but their beloved animals, executing them with chilling cruelty while law enforcement turns a blind eye.

Human relationships thrive on acceptance and understanding, yet too often, our regard for others comes with conditions. Unconditional positive regard (UPR), a concept pioneered by psychologist Carl Rogers, offers a transformative alternative: valuing individuals intrinsically, without judgment or expectation. At its core, UPR is the practice of accepting others as they are—recognizing their inherent worth while neither condoning nor condemning their actions.

It's becoming clear that Chris Rufo, who led the assault on Critical Race Theory, is the leading architect of the attack on higher education.

Loneliness and social isolation are significant public health concerns affecting individuals across the lifespan. While often associated with aging, the detrimental effects of isolation extend to younger populations as well. This essay will explore the profound impacts of isolation on the mental and physical health of senior citizens living alone and draw a comparison to children experiencing increasing solitude due to changing family structures.

A child’s development is deeply intertwined with the unwavering support and acceptance of their parents. This foundation of understanding becomes particularly critical when a child faces the …

Four representatives join effort to challenge the Trump administration’s refusal to facilitate the immigrant’s release