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WHEREAS, domestic violence transcends racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic borders, and its perpetrators harm their victims, endanger children and animals, traumatize families, and threaten our communities; and

WHEREAS, each year, hundreds of Orange County residents call for police assistance in domestic-violence related incidents, and dozens of citizens lose their lives due to domestic violence each year; and

WHEREAS, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that nearly 1 million animals a year are abused or killed in connection with domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, the link between domestic violence and animal abuse is well documented, and battered women are often unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence follows a pattern of assault that devastates an individual's dignity, security and humanity, and children who are abused too often become adults who inflict violence on others, spurring a tragic cycle of violence that must be stopped; and

WHEREAS, breaking this vicious and criminal cycle requires not only the strength of survivors, but also the support and participation of community members; and

WHEREAS, the Orange County community has responded through domestic violence prevention programs, crisis shelters, counseling and other support services, and Orange County's hospitals, health care facilities, and animal shelters also provide crucial services for battered women seeking aid for injuries, associated medical problems, and animal care; and

WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to reflect on the responsibilities of communities and citizens to build healthy, thriving families free from the threat of violence;

NOW, THEREFORE, Richard T. Crotty, by virtue of the authority vested in him as Orange County Mayor, does hereby proclaim the month of October as

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

in Orange County, Florida, and encourages citizens to take part in the numerous activities held throughout the community to increase public awareness of domestic violence.

DONE AND ORDERED this 6th day of October, 2009.