Program Aids Battered Women's Pets.

[FYI. For Your Interest.]

Program aids battered women's pets.

Officials at the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals report the Safe Pet Sheltering Program has served 12 animals owned by seven battered women staying at the Grace Smith House emergency domestic violence shelter since the program began a year ago.

The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation granted funds to launch the program, which is now funded by donations to the nonprofit Dutchess County SPCA.

Following a 2009 conference, “The Connection: The link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence,” which was sponsored by the Dutchess County SPCA, Grace Smith House and the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, it became clear that battered women had too few resources to protect their pets, particularly when seeking emergency shelter.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 71 percent of pet owners entering shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets.

More than half of the women in shelters had to leave their pets behind when they entered the shelter.

Fear that an attacker will neglect, give away, abuse or kill pets often leads some victims to stay in abusive relationships, the SPCA said in a release.

According to the SPCA, leaving behind a pet can add to an already traumatic experience and denies victims and their children the comfort and companionship of a beloved pet.

The program provided free veterinary examinations as well as vaccinations and spay-neuter operations as needed to the 12 animals assisted this year.

The program also enabled one animal to be adopted by a new home at the request of the owner, who was not able to bring the pet with her when she left Grace Smith House.

For safety reasons, the animals sheltered through the program are not housed at the shelter in Hyde Park. Instead, their location is kept confidential so the victims can visit with their pet in a safe location.

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The Dutchess County SPCA is a no-kill shelter that rescues, shelters and secures permanent homes for adoptable companion animals, advocates for the highest standards of animal care and enforces animal cruelty laws throughout Dutchess County.