Dogs and Owners Walk to Fight Domestic Violence

Animal lovers and their dogs braved the cool morning temperatures to walk the streets of Fairfax to raise awareness of the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence.

Sponsored by the Fairfax County Police Department, the K-9 Krawl was started four years ago by Kasey Kirkland, Victim Services Coordinator, and Detective Jacqueline Smith. Kirkland and Smith started the walk in order to raise awareness of the connection between domestic violence and animal cruelty.

"There is a strong link between domestic violence and animal cruelty," said Seema Zaya, County Coordinator of domestic violence services. "People who perpetrate animal cruelty often perpetrate domestic violence."

Because pets are not allowed in domestic violence shelters, Zaya noted that victims of domestic violence are concerned about leaving their pets with their attacker when they leave for a shelter. However, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter has a program where they will keep pets while a victim is living in a domestic violence shelter. 

On average, the walk gets between 100 and 150 participants each year. According to Kirkland, this year's crowd was larger than in past years. Participants included officers from the Fairfax County Police Department, such as Captain David Moyer of the Mount Vernon District Substation, who oversees all of the county's domestic violence detectives. 

"Every year this continues to grow as word gets out and and it gets more prominent as people talk about this issue," said Kirkland. " We're so happy that people came out on this somewhat cold October day."

Participants and their canine companions enjoyed the event, which included raffles sponsored by Moe's of Chantilly, Target, Weber's Pet Supermarket, and Caring Hands Animal Hospital. 

"I thought it was awesome," said Kristen of Reston. "It's good to raise awareness of the subject and that people get out here and the walk is good."