PetSmart Charities supports domestic abuse survivors and pets
Marking the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, PetSmart Charities offers support to keep violence survivors with their pets. According to the company, violence survivors who would seek help with a shelter or agency worry that their pet will be injured or attacked in their absence. But most domestic violence shelters do not allow pets, and as result a survivor may not choose to leave as early as they feel is needed.
"An overwhelming number of victims in shelters report their abusers threatened, injured and even killed pets as means of controlling their behavior," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities. "The love and companionship given by a pet is so comforting to someone who has been through pain and trauma. We want human services agencies to know that empowering survivors means supporting their pets, too. Making provisions for pets at shelters removes one more barrier when facing the difficult decision to escape. And in some cases, it means saving lives."
As part of its efforts, PetSmart Charities has awarded more than $3 million to shelters and organizations that keep domestic abuse survivors and their pets together. The funding, as part of the Preserving Families Initiative, will be used to support shelters, provide pet boarding, and for financial deposits needed to gain housing that welcomes pets. Individual funding amounts have been granted to organizations across the country.
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