Pets are like family. Unfortunately, like any member of a family, pets can be victims of domestic violence alongside their owners. Since pets are incredibly meaningful companions as well as sources of emotional support, abusive people may use targeting pets as a way to gain power and control over another person. Not only can abuse of pets occur in domestic violence situations, there may be barriers for pet owners to leaving an abusive relationship if they do not have a place to take their pet with them to.
It is therefore no question that pet owners experiencing domestic violence face barriers to securing safe housing. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 71% of pet owners experiencing domestic violence that sought shelter reported that the person abusing them had threatened, harmed, or even killed a family pet. Many pet owners escaping domestic violence face impossible decisions, such as whether or not to leave their pet behind if a shelter does not allow for pets. In fact, 52% of domestic violence survivors who own pets have had to leave their pets with their abuser, and women without children are more likely to postpone seeking shelter due to fear for their pets’ safety as compared to women with children, 33.3% versus 19.5%. These numbers shed light on a haunting reality for domestic violence survivors who are pet owners. An abusive person may use pets as retaliation or even manipulate a survivor into staying in a household to avoid separation from pets.
Although there are sometimes limited emergency housing options for pet owners there are still resources that may help. In DeKalb County, Safe Passage collaborates with Tails Humane Society through the Safe Pets Program, which was “created to provide temporary care for vulnerable animals whose owners are facing enormous challenges as victims of domestic violence or homelessness”. This program is designed to provide temporary boarding for pets in the event that a domestic violence survivor cannot bring their pets with them to a shelter. Similar programs and resources that domestic violence survivors can use can be found using the Animal Welfare Institute’s Safe Havens for Pets Directory: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/
The Animal Welfare Institute also recommends the following steps for domestic violence survivors to safety plan for their pets:
- Keep on hand the phone number of the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic.
- Establish ownership of the pet by creating a paper trail (e.g., obtain a license, have veterinarian records put in name).
- Keep emergency provisions for the pet. Pack a bag for the pet that includes these items:
- Food
- Medicine
- Documents of ownership (receipts from adoption or purchase of pet, license to establish ownership, receipts for animal purchases)
- Health documents (veterinary or vaccination records)
- Leash
- ID and rabies tag, if a dog or cat (these will also help establish ownership)
- Carrier
- Toys
- Bedding
Survivors of domestic violence can also seek Emergency Orders of Protection, through which they may petition for pets to be included as a protected party.
For any support or questions, please contact Safe Passage’s 24/7 hotline at 815.756.5228 and 24/7 textline at 815.393.1995.
Resources:
The Safe Pets Program: https://www.tailshumanesociety.org/programs/safe-pets/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence- Pets and Domestic Violence Info Sheet: https://www.sheriffs.org/publications/NCADV-Pets-DV.pdf
Including Pets in Domestic Violence Protection Orders in Illinois: https://awionline.org/content/including-pets-domestic-violence-protection-orders-illinois
Animal Welfare Institute’s Safe Havens for Pets Directory: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/
Written by: Shayna Smith
