Pet-Safe

If you are in need of assistance, please call our 24-hour hotline at:

(434) 293-8509 V/TTY

Collect calls accepted

If this is an emergency, please call 911

Si esto es una emergencia, llama por favor 911

Pets are part of the family in many American households. In homes where there is violence, pets are often threatened or injured by the violent partner. Two studies with women in domestic violence shelters yielded the following statistics: 72% of the women with animals witnessed animal abuse including, kicking, hitting, mutilation, or killing by the abuser.

In both studies, over 50% of the children also became animal abusers; often copying the behavior they saw. Still others report that they delayed leaving their homes because they feared their pet would be hurt when they left.

The Shelter for Help in Emergency has established the Pet-Safe Foster Care Program. We are seeking volunteers who are willing to foster an animal in their home on a temporary basis. By providing kindness and care you can make a difference to an animal in need. Your compassion also provides the animal's owner with peace of mind, and allows the individual time to seek counseling, develop new personal and professional skills, as well as increase self-esteem and independence.

All volunteers with the Pet-Safe Program will receive training on how to introduce a new animal into your home, behaviors that animals residing in an abuse situation may exhibit, as well as information about domestic violence. We are also accepting donations of bowls, leashes, collars, crates, litter boxes, miscellaneous pet foods, pet shampoo, chew toys, bones or other items that volunteers might need while caring for an animal.

"I was staying the night with my aunt. In the afternoon she was not there. The guy she was living with had a cat. He shot the cat. I saw him do this and I was very, very sad." --McKenna, Grade 4