regram @adoptapetcom
Unbelievably tragic #fact shared by Rita Garza of the Urban Resource Institute today. Her org has a program that helps domestic violence victims by giving victims’ pets the ability to be sheltered as well. Pretty amazing! #BetterWithPets @purina
Just gonna leave this here and go cry somewhere. Because that’s part of why I didn’t report things….
I understand this and I never wanted to, believe me.
I work in veterinary medicine, and volunteered in an animal shelter before that, so this is relevant to my interests on multiple levels. And I’ve been telling people about this ever since I learned about it because it’s so important. Whenever we see an abused animal at work, my first thought is to wonder whether there’s also a human being abused, either directly or through the animal. Abusers have been known to acquire pets specifically for this reason.
Fortunately the local LGBT-friendly abuse organization also has a pet-friendly shelter, and I’ve been trying to get their flyers into our hospital’s waiting areas (they’re already in the shelter, which is awesome), because this is so important.
I would love to work with the MSPCA to create some kind of “we foster your pet while you escape from your abuser” program, but I have no idea who to propose it to.
That is /such/ a good idea!