For many of us, pets are family. They greet us at the door, comfort us when we are sad and offer love without judgment.  

As a mental health clinician specializing in animal-assisted therapy, I have witnessed the deep, healing bonds that can exist between humans and their animals. Companion animals are more than just pets. They often serve as family, as emotional support and at times as the only source of wholehearted love in a person's life.  

Not all domestic violence victims escape. Some are too ashamed or fearful to leave. Some are bound by cultures or communities that do not fully respect women, where judgment and reputation outweigh survival. The age when victims simply endure is still with us. That was the case of a woman named Martha who died a few years ago in Western North Carolina. 

“Why doesn’t she just leave?” It’s a question asked countless times when trying to rationalize why someone in an abusive relationship continues to remain in that relationship.

Besides blaming the victim, the question also makes some strong assumptions: 

When Jeff Haynes entered the law enforcement academy in 1990, empathy wasn’t a word heard often in the ranks. Officers were trained to enforce, not to understand. But as the decades unfolded, few people would witness — and shape — the transformation of policing toward compassion and victim-centered practice more closely than Haynes himself. 

A Domestic Violence Protective Order, sometimes called a restraining order, is one of the most important legal tools available to protect survivors of domestic violence. A DVPO is a court order that forbids an abuser from contacting their victim. If that order is violated, the abuser can face criminal charges. 

Behind closed doors, domestic violence and child abuse often unfold side by side, feeding off the same roots of fear and control. 

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re reminded that protecting survivors means protecting families as a whole. When we support survivors of domestic violence, we safeguard the health and stability of entire households. 

In today’s world, success in business is no longer measured by profit alone. More and more companies — large and small — are recognizing the power they have to create positive change in their own communities. Partnering with a local nonprofit organization is one of the most impactful ways to do this. Not only does it strengthen the community you serve, but it also builds a stronger, more engaged business in the process. 

REACH, the Haywood County nonprofit that provides aid to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, has a new director. 

In an interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Sara Vogel affirmed her commitment not only to REACH’s vital mission, but also to the community she now calls home. 

REACH of Haywood County is sponsoring a free training for all community leaders, law enforcement personnel, social workers, healthcare professionals and concerned citizens from Haywood and surrounding counties. 

The “Brisket, Bourbon & Beer” fundraiser for REACH of Haywood County will take place from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at the Shelton House in Waynesville.