Protect Our Pets (Mini Category)will create and expand options for domestic violence victims with pets by providing support and other resources and training to Safe Futures community partners.

Proposed Project/Purpose

Safe Futures, Inc., recognized nationally as being the first domestic violence service provider in Connecticut to accept domestic violence victims with pets in their emergency domestic violence shelter, and now in all of their seven housing program, is requesting a Mini Award of $100,000 to support Protect Our Pets (POP), with a focus on Priority Area A, to better serve victims with pets in southeastern Connecticut with housing assistance and other support and services and with training of staff and stakeholders Safe Futures collaborates and partners with in delivering services to victims. All services will be free and confidential; trauma-informed; provided with equality, equity, liberation, and inclusion; survivor-centered, and delivered by certified domestic violence counselors.

Goals

Barriers for victims of domestic violence with pets in leaving a domestic violence situation are removed.
Providers are better informed on the needs of domestic violence victims with pets.

Objectives

Victims with pets have options for emergency, transitional, and housing assistance.

Victims with pets have options of staying in an emergency or transitional shelter; a pet-friendly hotel; or temporary housing their pet in the community through boarding or fostering.
Victims with pets are supported in finding pet-friendly housing.

Victims with pets have an increase of services available related to their pets

All pets residing in Safe Futures housing programs receive a Vet Check Visit upon entry.
Victims with pets are provided with individualized support services for their pet.

Increase training of domestic violence service provider staff and relevant partners on the needs of victims with pets.

Safe Futures staff are provided with training on the importance of and best practices of having sheltering and housing options and other support services for victims with pets.
Relevant partners are provided with training on the link between domestic violence and the abuse and neglect of victim’s pets.

The above will be achieved with a designated Pet Advocate (5 hrs./week) to work directly with victims with pets and a designated Pet Advocacy Educator (5 hrs./week) to develop and implement Safe Futures Pet Policy Manual, to include a Pet Intake Form and Victim’s with Pet’s Responsibilities, and training of staff and relevant stakeholders, such as Law Enforcement, Coordinated Access Network and area homeless providers.  

Service Area

Southeastern Connecticut, specifically all 21 towns of New London County.

Beneficiaries

There are three beneficiaries of POP– 1) victims, and their families; 2) their pets; and 3) relevant stakeholders.