Domestic Violence Shelters and Pets: How RedRover Offers Assistance for Successful Co-sheltering CAIA Conference June, 12 th 2017 Presented by: Katie Campbell Outreach & Partnerships Coordinator www.RedRover.org
Objectives: • Define the issue: pets and Domestic Violence • Who is RedRover? • Safe Housing Grants • Learn about co-sheltering • What can you do right now? www.RedRover.org 2
Pets are part of the family. • Almost 80 million (65%) American homes have pets (2015-2016) • 70% of homes with children under age 6 have at least one pet (2011-12) www.RedRover.org 3
The connection between human violence and animal violence: Child Abuse Elder Animal Abuse Abuse = The LINK Domestic Violence * Image adapted from the National Link Coalition www.RedRover.org 4
“When animals are abused, people are at risk; when people are abused, animals are at risk.” www.RedRover.org 5
Define the issue: pets and DV • Up to 70% of DV victims report having a pet • 71% of pet- owning women entering women’s shelters reported animal abuse • 48% reported that abuse occurred “often” in the last year When children are present: • 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals • Children who witness abuse were 3x times more likely to be cruel to animals www.RedRover.org 6
• Victims in abusive relationships often delay leaving out of concern for their pets • Rates range from 18% to as high as 48% www.RedRover.org 7
Why might abusers target pets? • Maintain terror and fright • Eliminate source of support/comfort • Force the family to return home • Reinforce there is no safe place • Gain more power and control www.RedRover.org 8
RedRover Responders RedRover Relief RedRover Readers Bringing animals from crisis to care. 9
RedRover Relief: Pets and Domestic Violence 1) Safe Escape grants 2) Safe Housing grants 3) SafePlaceforPets.org www.RedRover.org/domestic 10
Safe Escape Grants RedRover Relief Safe Escape Grants: P rovide boarding during the survivor’s • stay at the shelter • Family must be at DV shelter • Application must be submitted by a shelter advocate • Receive a response from our case managers within 24-hours (Monday – Friday) Highlights : • Over 10,000 safe nights of boarding provided since 2007 • Pets helped include dogs, cats, birds, horses, and a guinea pig www.RedRover.org 11
Application available at: www.redrover.org/dv www.RedRover.org 12
Testimonials “This particular client was not going to leave her dogs behind and in danger. Without RedRover there to help her she would still be married to her abuser.” – Jean, Peace at Home Family Shelter www.RedRover.org
Questions? www.RedRover.org 14
Safe Housing Grants RedRover Relief Safe Housing Grants: • Provide start-up funds to enable a domestic violence shelter to house pets on-site (co-sheltering) • Grants can be up to $6,000 • Partnered with Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T) Highlights: • 48 domestic violence shelters have received grants • Over $190,000 total funds distributed since 2012 www.RedRover.org 15
Why co-shelter? • Eliminates barriers to safety • Keeps victims safe during prosecution • Ends the cycle of violence • Reinforces the human- animal connection www.RedRover.org 16
Why is the Human-Animal Connection important? Animals provide support that can be critical in times of stress • Support physical and mental health • Provide continuity for children going through traumatic changes • Support empathy in children who have witnessed abuse www.RedRover.org 17
What are some barriers to co-sheltering? • Concerns about: • Allergies to pets • Funds to pay for pets • Sustainability • Dog bites • Pets being abandoned • Legal issues www.RedRover.org 18
SAF-T Program • The first program to encourage domestic violence shelters to allow families to bring pets on-site • Offers practical solutions to concerns about having animals in a domestic violence shelter • alliephillips.com/saf-tprogram www.RedRover.org 19
How to establish SAF-T • Name a program coordinator • Safety and security • Noise and allergies • Materials and supplies • Types of pets • Housing Style • Option 1 = Housing within rooms • Option 2 = Separate room within shelter • Option 3 = Housing in outside shelter • Objections from staff or residents www.RedRover.org 20
Principles for a successful program: • Partner with a local animal shelter or animal care organization. • Partner with a vet. • The family is the primary caretaker. • Keep it simple! Discussion: What organizations T manual offers templates for MOU’s with organizations. can you work with in your area? www.RedRover.org 21
SAF-T Start-Up Manual • Complete and concise information, including FAQ • Provides sample forms: • MOU between animal shelter and DV shelter • Shelter supply checklist • SAF-T Program Intake Form • Agreement between resident and DV shelter • Procedures for residents with pets • Consent and Release for boarding at animal shelter • Extended care contract • Resident evaluation form www.RedRover.org 22
SAF-T Shelter Examples Naples, Florida Kansas City, Missouri Shelter for Abused Women & Rose Brooks Center Children Hermitage, PA Clay County, FL Quigley House AWARE 23
How co-sheltering can help with fundraising? • Public awareness raises donations • Animal lovers are a new donor demographic • Coordinate with animal shelter fundraising events Discussion: How can you fundraise to start or sustain a co-sheltering program? www.RedRover.org 24
Safe Housing Grant application www.redrover.org/safehousing * Submissions due: May 15 and October 15 25
SafePlaceforPets.org • Searchable directory that includes co-sheltering, foster, and other sheltering programs. Highlights: • Launched in October of 2013 • Over 600 programs listed in the directory and the list is growing! www.RedRover.org 26
Rose Brooks Center – Kansas City, MO https://redrover.org/article/powerful-video- makes-case-pets-domestic-violence-shelters 27
What you can do now: • Inquire about pets in all intake interviews 1. Are there pets in the home? 2. How does each family member treat them? 3. Do you worry about something bad happening to them? 4. Is there somewhere safe they can stay? • Include pets in safety planning* (gather medical records and licenses – “proof of ownership”) • Provide pet housing resources www.RedRover.org 28
Resources Pets and Domestic Violence: Statistics and Resources www.RedRover.org/domestic-violence-and-pets National Link Coalition: http://nationallinkcoalition.org/ Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T) http://alliephillips.com/ www.RedRover.org 29
Visit us online at: www.RedRover.org Katie Campbell Outreach & Partnerships Coordinator kcampbell@redrover.org 916.429.2457 ext. 316 Laurel Meleski Program Coordinator II laurel@redrover.org 916.429.2457 ext. 302
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