Helping Hands
Capital Area Humane Society offers unique program to care for pets
For some women in central Ohio, living with a violent partner is a way of life. It becomes a cycle broken only when the abused seek help to change their lives. Many of these women aren’t alone. They seek solace from their pets’ daily—cats, dogs, even birds. Unfortunately, many shelters and emergency services for domestic violence victims can’t accommodate pets, and owners face the impossible decision of leaving an animal behind.
In 2006, The Columbus Foundation’s A Call to Action publication featured the program Safe Haven for Pets, an emergency foster care system for women leaving abusive situations. Twenty Foundation donors contributed gifts to the cause, totaling nearly $8,000. Originally facilitated by PAWS (People and Animal Welfare League) in collaboration with The Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, the program was transferred to the Capital Area Humane Society in 2007.
Last year, The Capital Area Humane Society hired a part-time program coordinator to oversee the efforts of the growing program. In its first full year of implementation, Safe Haven for Pets provided services and support to 26 women and nearly 60 animals in need. The coordinator works with organizations including Choices, the Columbus City Attorney Domestic Violence Unit, and the Ohio Reformatory for Women on referrals, transport, and supplies—all essential components to the long-term success of the program.
The program has also been successful identifying women who may be in need of help.
"We’ve seen tremendous success from the collaboration between our coordinator and the Humane Society’s animal cruelty investigators," said Abby Rosenberger, of the Capital Area Humane Society. "Animal cruelty investigators are often the first-line of defense in identifying abuse in a home. If you have an individual abusing an animal, there’s a good chance they may be abusing people as well.
Healthy animals admitted to the program are transported to The Ohio Reformatory for Women, where they are cared for by inmates. Animals needing medical attention remain at the Capital Area Humane Society.
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