Anyone who has a pet knows how therapeutic they can be after a bad day. How that unconditional love can brighten even the darkest of times. Now imagine having to give up your pet in order to protect your family from a domestic abuser. Currently, there are no domestic violence shelters in Maine that accept pets, so victims (and their children!) have to watch their families torn apart, and give up that unconditional love at the same time. That's why our friends at Mutt Nose Best have put together the BARKK...to End the Silence Walk.

Here are a few statistics from the Mutt Nose Best Website. Animals are abused in a staggering 88% of homes where domestic violence is an issue, according to the Animal Welfare Society. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that 71% of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters had reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, threatened, or killed family pets for revenge or for psychological control over their victims. Sadly, 65% of victims in these situations will stay in danger longer out of concern for their pets. And 52% of victims who enter shelters say they had to make the very difficult choice to leave the pet with their batterer.

The BARKK....to End the Silence 5K Walk, Run, or Woof! will be held Saturday, September 28th on the Bangor Waterfront. Registration starts at 8:30am and the race begins at 9:30. Race Registration is $25 for each canine/human team. And the first 100 registrants will get an event t-shirt and a dog bandanna, as well as a sWAG bag!

This dog-friendly dash is being sponsored by the Mutt Nose Best "PAW It Forward" Foundation in hopes of a day when families will not have to choose between their safety and the animals they love. Watch this powerful video put together by our friends at Mutt Nose Best about the walk. It will touch your heart! And log onto the Mutt Nose Best website to sign up or to donate to this worthy cause!

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