Session 3: Pet Safety and Women: Options for women with pets leaving abusive situations
Sub-theme
Practice
Keywords
women, domestic violence, pets
Start Date
11-10-2018 1:45 PM
End Date
11-10-2018 2:45 PM
Abstract
The Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH) is a coalition of first stage emergency shelters, 2nd stage housing organizations and community-based women organizations who work towards ending violence against all women. We achieve this through training, education, advocacy, public awareness and government relations. Our individual member organizations offer a range of supports, services and advocacy for women and their children fleeing violence:
Based on continued inquiries and interest from our member shelters, OAITH produced a document in March 2018 entitled Pet Safety and Women: Options for Women With Pets Leaving Abusive Situations.
OAITH proposes to present this document in detail to the conference participants.
The document contains a summary of why violence or the threat of violence against pets is an issue for women experiencing violence who then go to women’s shelters.
There is a brief summary of current research, primarily conducted by Dr. Amy Fitzgerald, followed by a brief history of the Safe Pet Program partnership held between OAITH, the OVMA and Action Ontarienne Contre La Violence Faite Aux Femmes.
A significant section of the document detailsthe results of a survey OAITH conducted in November and December 2017. All women’s shelters and transition houses were contacted regarding what services, if any, do they provide to women regarding pet safety. Finally, there is a comprehensive chart that summarizes all the options shelters indicated they provide that highlights the range of approaches currently being used across Ontario.
Additionally, OAITH prepared a list of all the shelters in Ontario, by name and by region, that offer some form of support for pets of women leaving violent situations. There is also a list of the four regional pet foster organizations in Ontario that were founded specifically regarding fostering pets of women who are leaving violent situations.
May Lui, Training & Resource Coordinator
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
Session 3: Pet Safety and Women: Options for women with pets leaving abusive situations
The Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH) is a coalition of first stage emergency shelters, 2nd stage housing organizations and community-based women organizations who work towards ending violence against all women. We achieve this through training, education, advocacy, public awareness and government relations. Our individual member organizations offer a range of supports, services and advocacy for women and their children fleeing violence:
Based on continued inquiries and interest from our member shelters, OAITH produced a document in March 2018 entitled Pet Safety and Women: Options for Women With Pets Leaving Abusive Situations.
OAITH proposes to present this document in detail to the conference participants.
The document contains a summary of why violence or the threat of violence against pets is an issue for women experiencing violence who then go to women’s shelters.
There is a brief summary of current research, primarily conducted by Dr. Amy Fitzgerald, followed by a brief history of the Safe Pet Program partnership held between OAITH, the OVMA and Action Ontarienne Contre La Violence Faite Aux Femmes.
A significant section of the document detailsthe results of a survey OAITH conducted in November and December 2017. All women’s shelters and transition houses were contacted regarding what services, if any, do they provide to women regarding pet safety. Finally, there is a comprehensive chart that summarizes all the options shelters indicated they provide that highlights the range of approaches currently being used across Ontario.
Additionally, OAITH prepared a list of all the shelters in Ontario, by name and by region, that offer some form of support for pets of women leaving violent situations. There is also a list of the four regional pet foster organizations in Ontario that were founded specifically regarding fostering pets of women who are leaving violent situations.
May Lui, Training & Resource Coordinator
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
