Safe Havens for Pets

Overview

Safe havens for pets are sheltering services available to help individuals experiencing domestic violence place their companion animals out of harm’s way so that they may seek safety for themselves.

The Safe Havens for Pets directory is a searchable directory established in 2011 for pets of those experiencing domestic violence and/or homelessness, created and managed by AWI.

What Are Safe Havens for Pets?

Safe havens operate differently from one community to another. They may involve networks of foster homes or partnerships with local kennels, animal shelters, or veterinarians. Some domestic violence and homeless shelters may house survivors and their pets together in the same room, while others provide on-site kennels. Safe havens can be independent nonprofit organizations or formal partnerships between animal welfare and human service agencies. Specific arrangements, including length of stay and visitation options, vary from one safe haven to another. In all cases, the pet’s location should be highly guarded in order to protect the pets and their family members.

What Is the Safe Havens for Pets Directory?

Until AWI established the Safe Havens for Pets Project in 2011 (originally as “Safe Havens Mapping Project”), only partial listings of safe havens for pets were available. AWI and the Safe Havens for Pets project addressed this gap with the development of a comprehensive state-by-state directory of sheltering services for pets of domestic violence survivors. The entities included are subject to ongoing refinement, and the latest date of reverification is indicated.

Search the AWI Safe Havens for Pets Directory