Women fleeing domestic violence will now be able to take their pets with them to a London shelter.
In a continued effort to knock down barriers for its clients, Anova has decided to make its Clarke Road shelter a pet-friendly facility.
The London-based agency provides shelter, support, counselling, and resources for abused women and their children. It was able to begin allowing cats, dogs and other pets into the shelter after receiving a $22,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada.
The money went to accommodation upgrades and the addition of a dog run.
“What we know to be true is that women with pets can find themselves staying longer in violent situations because they fear for their pets and what will happen if they leave without them," Jessie Rodger, executive director of Anova, said in a statement. "This is an unacceptable barrier to keeping survivors of gender based violence safe and Anova, in partnership with PetSmart Charities of Canada, PAWS, and the East Village Animal Hospital is committed to breaking down those barriers."
Research by the University of Windsor found over half of the women surveyed delayed leaving a violent situation out of concern for their pet, with 89 per cent stating their partner also abused their furry friend.
“The human-animal bond is important and it is critical that services like Anova’s be available to offer assistance to all members of the family,” said Dani LaGiglia, regional relationship manager for PetSmart Charities of Canada. “We’re proud to support organizations that keep people and their pets together as they escape abuse and find safety.”
Anova had been considering a policy change that would allow pets to stay alongside their owners since the start of the year.
The agency's Wellington Road facility will remain pet-free in order to accommodate clients with allergies.
