Walk Spotlights Victims' RightsWINONA LAKE - As the Grace College choir finished singing "I Can Only Imagine," 233 purple balloons launched into the sunny sky Saturday afternoon.
Each balloon represented a victim that the Victims' Assistance Program worked with locally in 2008, according to Becky Moreno, Victims' Assistance coordinator.
The balloon launch concluded the Walk Against Violence and the local recognition of National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
For the family of Ruth Anne Lipka, the walk was especially significant as she was remembered during the walk, vigil and the balloon launch. The song "I Can Only Imagine" also was one of her favorite songs.On Nov. 12, Lipka was found dead, wrapped in a tarp in an attached garage at her home. Her husband, Charles Anthony "Tony" Maddox Jr., was arrested for her murder. He is in jail now, awaiting trial, on a $1 million bond.
Lipka, who was 45 when she died, worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered lifestyles and general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Approximately 75 to 100 people participated in Saturday's Walk Against Violence. Along with walkers, there was an assortment of dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes.
Lipka had two dogs and a cat. A common concern for women leaving an abusive relationship is finding a place to seek shelter not only for themselves, but for their pets as well. Her pets were one of her concerns while divorcing Maddox and why she didn't return to Indiana from Minnesota sooner.
During the vigil for Lipka, Darla McCammon, Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League, spoke about how an animal can contribute to a domestic violence situation.
When a person gets into a domestic violence situation, a person is not getting the love and care they deserve. But when an abused person has a pet, the pet loves the person unconditionally.
"So people like Ruth Anne who get into an abusive situation really bond with their animals," said McCammon.
Once an abuser learns this, she said, the abuser begins to threaten the animal, complicating the situation further.
Lipka had three animals, and all of them had a strong place in her heart, McCammon said. But a situation like Lipka's doesn't have to end like hers, McCammon said.
The first step to get out of an abusive situation is to know you need help and get help. Make a plan to get out of the situation, and have a disaster plan for the pets.
McCammon said AWL has a disaster plan for pets. The plan includes determining if friends or family would house your pets. Have the pet food supply, kennel, bedding, water and familiar toy at this location. Have pets' name and copy of important papers and leashes/collars there, too. Provide veterinarian's name in case of illness or need for attention.
The AWL also can provide a foster home. McCammon said a person needs to make advance preparations by filling out paperwork at the AWL so they can take the pet in quickly when needed. If possible, save funds for the food and medical needs for the foster care at AWL. However, even if an abused person has no funds, the AWL still will help, she said.
"We want to stress we'll never turn an animal away for lack of funds," said McCammon.
The AWL does have a protective care program that will house pets from a domestic violence situation for up to three months. Donations to help with this fund can be made to Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581. In memory of Lipka, the AWL has renamed the fund the Ruth Anne Remembrance Fund.
Karen Whitaker, Lipka's sister, thanked everyone for their participation and help with the walk. She said because of her sister's murder, the lives of her family will never be the same again. Lipka left behind a daughter, three pets, two sisters, a brother and her parents.
Had they known what the signs of an abusive relationship were, Whitaker said they would have told Lipka to leave sooner. Looking back, now knowing what the signs are, she said the signs were there in her sister's situation.
No one ever thinks domestic violence can happen to their family, Whitaker said. Her family certainly didn't.
For more information, call 574-372-9539; e-mail bam@kconline.com or visit online at www.victimservicecenter.org
