A bill that would extend domestic abuse protections to pets has cleared the Minnesota Senate with wide support.
The chamber voted 59 to 7 Monday for the proposal from DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas of St. Paul.
The bill would let judges include pets in court protective orders and determine who would care for a pet in a domestic abuse case.
Minnesota judges can already consider pets in cases of domestic violence, but that authority is not spelled out in state law.
Advocates say many battered women stay in dangerous situations out of fear for their pets.
The bill would make Minnesota the 14th state to include pets in domestic abuse protections.
A similar measure is under consideration in the House.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
