I'm driving home from the dog park tonight with my dog and two of my friend's dogs in my car. I'm thinking about roasting corn, petting my cat, and a shower.

stuck at a light, I notice the vehicle in front of me bobbing around. It's got two people in it. I pay closer attention and see the man, who is driving, wailing on the passenger, who is a woman. He's pulling her hair, and at times has her yanked almost to his seat.

I dial 911. They ask me to describe the situation, which I do. Detailing the car in question, and describing the people involved. I'm really freaked out as I grew up in a household where my mother and stepfather fought-hard-sometimes had firearms involved.

Fast forward 5 minutes to when the officers have pulled over this car and surrounded it with guns. I'm terrified, not for me, even though dispatch was informing me to stay away from this car in case the man in question tried to do something. I am frightened for this woman. What has the assailant done to her? Will she acknowledge it as abuse?

A very nice officer questions me, and says the victim is denying anything happened. She stated there were other people in the car who got out; they were the ones fighting. I repeated my story nearly verbatim.

I know domestic violence when I see it. I want to live in a world where women like this one feel strong enough saying "Yes. That man hit me, and he deserves punishment for his actions." I want to live in a world where women don't live in fear. I want to live in a world where the cop does not feel the need to tell me I did the right thing--where I already know I made the right call.

Nobody, man or woman, adult or child, deserves violence enacted against them.

I should not have had to make that phone call. If we lived in a world of ideals.