Escaping Domestic Violence as a Pet Owner
Explore Insights from Survivors and Recommendations from PALS.
PALS: An Innovative Program that Protects People and Pets
When domestic violence victims decide to leave abusive situations, they face many difficult choices. For victims with pets, it can be even more agonizing if there are no options for pets.
Do they flee with their children and leave their pet behind? Do they place their pet with a rescue organization and hope for the best? Do they stay and try to keep their family intact despite abuse? Or is there a better way?
Very few shelters accept domestic violence victims with pets. That’s why the PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) program can mean the difference between staying in an abusive situation and finding safety for the entire family. PALS removes barriers to entry by providing accommodations for co-living with pets of any species.
Since PALS was launched in 2013, URI has continued to expand and refine the program to provide the best possible services for people and pets. This encompasses the creation of pet parks, including inspirational murals to brighten the space. Watch the creation of one such mural at our Harmony House shelter.
Did You Know?
67%
of U.S. households own a pet
48%
of survivors won't leave an abusive relationship because they can’t take their pet
<10%
of domestic violence shelters provide co-sheltering for survivors and their pets
Here at URI:
>250
families and 350 pets have been sheltered to date
172
pet-ready apartments at 7 shelter locations
Pets are family members, too
The human-animal bond is important to well-being, especially in times of distress. For victims, their pet may be their only source of comfort and support. But abuse affects more than people: pets experience domestic violence in ways similar to people. In many cases, pets are used as leverage to further threaten, harm or control victims. In some cases, pets may try to intervene, leading them to become a direct target of an abuser.
We allow the whole family to heal together
PALS offers pet-ready apartments and services across New York City in three boroughs that allow families and pets to live and heal together in the same secure space. Our aim is to break the cycle of violence and foster independence and hope.
Victims are provided a full range of wellness services:
- Safety
- Case Management
- Counseling
- Specialized pet care
- Veterinarians and animal behavioral specialists
- Economic empowerment
- Childcare services
- Educational enhancement
- Nutrition
- Academic support for adults and kids
- Financial literacy
Protecting the Entire Family at PALS Place
Introduced in 2019, PALS Place is the first domestic violence shelter in the nation and the only co-living shelter in New York City in which every apartment unit has been designed to shelter pets alongside their families in the same safe, secure space.
Safety Tips for Pets
Know the signs and develop a safety plan
Victims of domestic violence are often subjected to multiple types of abuse over significant periods of time which is designed to erode self-esteem and maintain power and control over them. For some, it can take several attempts to leave. Whether you are ready or able to escape an abusive situation, you may find it useful to develop a safety plan for yourself and your entire family - including any children and pets. As you develop your plan, consider the following safety tips:
Supplies. Set aside supplies, pack an emergency bag and keep it hidden, but easily accessible. Make sure to include necessary food, medication, and records for pets.
Animal ownership documents. Accumulate registration records, vet records, a microchip, and/or a current photo to prove ownership of your pets in a safe place.
Friends and family. Find a friend or family member to help care for your pet in case of a sudden emergency. They are an important part of your overall pet-care plan.
Explore options. Look into resources in your community for assistance with your pets. Look for a local co-sheltering program or animal welfare organization that can provide services. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has a list of resources here.
Compensation for Victims of Domestic Violence
By definition, all domestic violence victims are crime victims and many need financial assistance to recover collateral destroyed by abusers. New York State’s Crime Victims Board provides compensation to victims for losses they incurred as a result of a crime. The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) offers compensation for victims of crime, including domestic violence. Visit their Services page to learn more and apply.
Download the Crime Victims Benefit Application here.
URI serves all survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
How To Help PALS
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Your donation ensures that individuals, families and their pets can escape abuse, safely heal and gain the resources needed to rebuild their lives.
Thank you to our funders and supporters
The Margaret Whitton Charitable Trust
Bruce G. Geary Foundation
A Kinder World Foundation
Norma Green Foundation
89 Cats
70 Dogs
10 Turtles
1 Rabbit
4 Fish
To Date We’ve Sheltered
4 Birds
2 Guinea Pigs
2 Hamsters
1 Bearded Dragons
In Their Own Words
Being in the PALS program, I was given the tools and the time needed. If you just go from one desperate situation to the next desperate situation you keep repeating the cycle, and here I was given a safe space.
PALS resident