Studies from the domestic violence field consistently show that women delay leaving abusive situations because of fears for a pet's safety. Many women’s shelters have arrangements with local animal shelters or veterinary hospitals to provide temporary housing for their pets.

• The OVMA has developed a SafePet Program wherein participating veterinary clinics make space available to house animals of women seeking refuge in a women’s shelter. Contact info@ovma.org for information.
• To learn how to implement a temporary sheltering program for animals of family violence victims, see Starting a Safe Havens for Animals Program, a resource from the Humane Society of the United States.

• Animal Abuse