A Golden Retriever is making legal history in Connecticut.

It all started when Cassandra Reynolds went to drop off her children at her ex-husband’s, Brian Reynolds, home. While there, an argument broke out between them. As the argument continued and words were exchanged, according to Mr. Reynolds, his golden retriever, Riley, approached his Cassandra as she sat in the car and, as Mr. Reynolds claims, she kicked Riley with both feet across the yard. Riley yelped. Cassandra was arrested.

According to a report by Inside Edition Cassandra says she never kicked Riley. “I am not a danger to pets. I have pets. I love pets!”

With a new law that went into effect Oct. 1 in Connecticut, it allows laws to impose protective orders on behalf of pets as well as humans. And that’s just want the judge did in this case. Cassandra was shocked by the judge’s decision to issue a restraining order for her to not only stay away from her ex-husband and his new wife, but also to stay at least 100 yards away from Riley or face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

This is the first time a pet has been given an order of protection as part of the new law. New York and Maine have similar laws; New Jersey has a proposed law working through the system. Several other states are passing similar laws to protect pets who are far too often the forgotten victims of domestic violence. At least one study, by a researcher at Utah State University, backed up the idea that pet abuse was common in domestic violence: Of more than 100 women in shelters for battered women, 54 percent said that their abusers had also abused pets. A separate study, by the same researcher, found that half of 42 incarcerated men who had had violent relationships with women admitted to hurting or killing pets. Such statistics have compelled some legislatures to take action. Last year, Maine passed a law extending protective orders to animals; in one case there, a woman said her ex-husband sought revenge by attacking the animals on their farm — running over a blind and deaf border collie, shooting two sheep and wringing the necks of several turkeys.

Vermont and New York adopted similar measures last year. This year, in addition to Connecticut, five other states have adopted measures of their own and several others, including New Jersey, have bills under consideration, according to the American Humane Association.

Cassandra’s lawyer, Jon D. Berman, said his client had not kicked Riley. “She’s a real animal lover,” he said according to NYTimes. Cassandra plans to appeal the decision. She told Inside Edition , “If the courts want to waste time on this case then we’re going to stand up and fight this to the end.”

While Cassandra begins her journey to fight the charges against her, Riley is enjoying extra treats and lots of playtime. He seems completely unaware that he’s making legal history.

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