Four Delaware organizations are working together to help victims of domestic violence and their pets escape abusive situations.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA is teaming up with Child, Inc., People’s Place and RedRover on “A Place for Your Pet.”
The program provides victims in the two Delaware shelters safe and discrete off-site housing for their pets during their times of transition.
Linda Torelli is the marketing director for the Brandywine Valley SPCA.
“It’s a significant barrier for victims of domestic violence who have pets in their lives to be able to get assistance. About 65% of victims with pets don’t seek shelter and assistance because they’re afraid to leave their pets behind. So we’re excited about this program to remove that barrier and hopefully have more domestic violence victims be able to leave their abusers and get a new start in life,” said Torelli.
Torelli says domestic violence victims with pets who need assistance should reach out to Child, Inc., or People’s Place on those agency’s hotline numbers. People answering calls on those hotlines are trained to ask if victims have pets and walk people through the process.
The BVSPCA works with local boarding facilities to house the pets at no charge to their owners - until the victim can transition out of a shelter.
The groups are working with RedRover, a national nonprofit that provides financial and logistical assistance to victims seeking to escape abusive situations with their pets.
According to the National Coalition for Domestic Violence, more than 70% of pet-owning victims entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser has injured, killed or threatened family pets.
Hotline numbers for the domestic violence shelters involved with this program are available here:
- CHILD, Inc. Bilingual (Spanish/English) 302-762-6110
- People’s Place – English- 302-422-8058
- People’s Place – Spanish- 302-745-9874
