New Programs Take in Domestic-Abuse Victims and their Pets

Every day a news story is reported about women or children who are victims of abuse. Often these people have been victims for years, but stay in the abusive relationship because they don't have anywhere else to go. And if they do, they hesitate for fear of repercussions against other family members - namely, their pets.

One out of every four women is a victim of domestic violence. Since 71-million homes have pets, many of them will be victims of violence. Cases of domestic violence in which the family pet is the intended victim also involved spousal, child, and elder abuse. Until recently, if a woman didn't have a relative or friend who could temporarily house their family pet, they'd be left behind or relinquished permanently to a shelter. This was traumatic for the family and for the cat or dog who couldn't understand why their family went away and left them. Often a pet who was usually friendly became withdrawn and shy, and was difficult to re-home.

This is yet another tragedy for pets who deserve to stay with their families. Fortunately there is hope for abuse victims and their pets. New programs are being implemented that allow pets to be placed temporarily until their owners have relocated and are able to bring their pets home permanently. Maine, New York and Vermont have passed laws that state that family pets are included in protective court orders in domestic violence cases. Animals as well as spouses will now be protected under the law from abusers. If shelter operators, rescue groups, and communities advocate for laws to be passed in every state, more families would get the help they need when they're in abusive situations. Shelters across the country are now offering off-site, temporary placement for pets while their owners are housed in shelters. However, there have been very few facilities that offered on-site housing for pets of abuse victims.

In 2005 the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals bulletin reported a story about the Rev. Canon Bruce Gardner of the Diocese of Eau Claire in Wisconsin. Rev. Gardner had been working with the county humane society and a shelter for battered women to provide foster care for their pets while they were housed at the shelter. This innovative program also supplied animals that were friendly as support for women in group homes. Ministries such as this benefit not only abuse victims, but their pets and shelter pets. (www.aswa.org.uk)

Allie Phillips J.D., the public policy director for American Humane, created Pets And Women' Shelters (PAWS) a program that was put into place at domestic abuse shelters. Phillips who was an assistant prosecutor found that many domestic abuse cases never went to trial and often the abusers were never found guilty because of fear of the victims whose pets had been abused or in some cases killed by the abuser. If PAWS programs could be started across the country, they would provide safe places for pets and their owners.

American Humane is advocating for abuse victims and pets to be allowed to stay together whenever possible. It's comforting for victims and safer for their pets to be kept together. The bond between people and their pets is especially important after suffering a traumatic experience; particularly domestic abuse. A startup guide about PAWS is available on American Humane's Web site. (www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lk_PAWS ) An article about the launch of the PAWS program appeared on the Best Friends Network site 2/13/2008. (http://network.bestfriends.org/arkansas/news/22853.html )

The Salem Animal Rescue League, Salem, N.H. has a Safe Place Program, allowing pets to be placed temporarily while owners are in shelters, allowing owners to reclaim them at a later time. (http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_020094138?keyword=topstory) A few organizations have begun programs that are allowing the transition for abuse victims, their children, and pets to be easier and much less traumatic. One of the few shelters in the country that allows on-site housing for domestic abuse victims as well as their family pets is the Shelter For Abused Women & Children in Naples, Florida. (www.naplesshelter.org)

This is the story of one woman from Ohio who was housed at this shelter. Her abusive husband had already hurt her dog and the puppies she gave birth to, and he threatened to harm her again. She had to take her dog with her. She'd had her since she was a puppy and wouldn't leave her to be beaten or possibly killed. The first shelter she went to refused to take in her dog, but she was fortunate enough to find the Shelter for Abused Women and Children. Approximately 100 pets are housed there temporarily with their owners every year. It was particularly stressful for this family because not only was abuse involved, but they had already lost everything in a fire in their home. It was reassuring for the family to go out to the kennel at the shelter and see that their dog was safe and being cared for. The story appears in its entirety on Good News For Pets. (http://www.goodnewsforpets.com/petworld.asp?ID=1012)

More information about the Safe Pet Program can be found on this site: (www.mysistershousenc.org). My Sisters House is located in Rocky Mount, NC.

To learn more about the relationship between animal cruelty and domestic violence, and ways to protect your pets, please visit The Humane Society of the United States website at (www.hsus.org)

Link to petition to sign showing support for pets in women's shelters

(http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog/petitions/pets-in-womens-shelters-show-your-support)