Pets: The overlooked victims of DV
Pets: The overlooked victims of Domestic Violence
An estimated 1 million animals are abused or killed each year in connection with DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!! Abusers often will harm or threaten to harm the family pet to punish their victim for leaving or to manipulate them into returning. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence an estimated 71% of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser threatened, injured or killed their family pet.
It is reported that approximately 40% of domestic violence victims are unable or unwilling to escape their abusers because they are worried about leaving their beloved pets behind. Nationwide there are less than 5% of domestic violence shelters that house pets.
Haven of Lake & Sumter Counties, Inc is the only certified domestic violence and sexual assault center providing services in Lake & Sumter Counties, Florida. We provide free services such as emergency shelter, 24 hour crisis hotline, individual counseling, group counseling, advocacy, 24 hour sexual assault forensic exams and advocate accompaniment, legal advocacy, court accompaniment.
Haven is wanting to raise funds to build a pet shelter on our emergency shelter property to enable us to accept survivors leaving abusive relationships and allow them to keep their pets safe and with them. This pet shelter will be a climate controlled facility that will allow these victims to continue to take care of their pets and keep them safe from abuse while they are working to build a violence free life and re-establish themselves in the community.
