'Big, beautiful bill' has turned into pet-hating bill
In GOP bill, domestic violence victims (and shelters) will have to choose between pets and DEI
Ask the average person have they read the 1,200-page “H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and there’s a fairly high chance that the answer is “no.” Even GOP politicians who voted in favor of the bill didn’t read the whole thing. But pet owners and anti-domestic violence advocates may want to pay attention to one particular section of this bill — or the lack of grant funding, that is — because the Pet and Women Safety Act is on the chopping block.
Additionally, any federal money allocated under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 is at risk of no funding. Why? The Trump administration is demanding that rape crisis centers, battered women's shelters, and other programs that support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault cannot support diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In response to this, 17 statewide anti-domestic and sexual violence coalitions are suing the Trump administration.
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How is the “Big, Beautiful Bill” relevant to animal lovers?
In addition to this budget bill lowering the number of scientists and veterinarians involved in protecting animal welfare (and no funds to re-house current animals), there’s also the matter of the PAWS Act.
Signed into law on December 20, 2018, the PAWS Act was included as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. In this bill, the PAWS Act provided shelter and housing assistance for domestic violence survivors who didn’t want to leave their pets behind. The law also includes service and emotional support animals.
Recommended Read: “National Pet Month: Protecting domestic violence survivors ~ Where does the pet go in the middle of a domestic violence dispute?”
With ultimatums from this Republican-supported new budget bill, any group who applies for federal money allocated under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 would be in an awkward (and illegal) position to openly discriminate on the basis of gender identity, to avoid aiding underserved racial and ethnic groups, and to discriminate based on legal status with immigrants.
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According to the American Pet Products Association president and CEO Pete Scott, "Pet ownership itself is expanding, with 94 million U.S. households now owning at least one pet” in 2025, up from 86.9 million pet owners in 2023-24.
And when there is violence in the home, it can be directed at the pets as well as the people. Abusers have manipulated domestic violence victims into staying in the home or risk the pets being injured or killed. And with domestic violence facilities largely not accepting pets, even if the victim was to escape, that pet would have to be left behind in order to be housed in these facilities.
Recommended Read: “'The Pivot Podcast' hosts handled domestic violence awareness like I wish all men would ~ How to bring awareness regarding domestic violence without playing whataboutism”
The PAWS Act, however, includes pets in federal law pertaining to interstate stalking, protection order violations and restitution. It also urges states to allow pets to be included under protection orders. (Forty-two states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have already done so.)
Recommended Video: Katie Phang ~ “Trump’s GOP Pushes shocking cut that could put lives at risk”
While these programs are already getting an ultimatum to not choose DEI options, funding for pets is being swept under the rug anyway. Even if pet owners are not living in these circumstances already, just knowing that domestic violence victims and their pets are at higher risk of being unable to escape is enough to pay more attention if this bill is approved by the Senate.
Shamontiel is a dog lover to her core: 639 completed walks with 101 dogs, eight dog house sittings and six dog boardings at the time of this publication.
Did you enjoy this post? You’re also welcome to check out my Substack columns “Black Girl In a Doggone World,” “BlackTechLogy,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” “One Black Woman’s Vote” and “Window Shopping” too. Subscribe to this newsletter for the weekly posts every Wednesday. Thanks for reading!