VOA-GNY Announces New Initiative to Better Serve DV Survivors and their Pets

NEW YORK – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) announced its Survivors and Pets Opportunity to Thrive (SPOT) Initiative, an expansion of resources for survivors and their pets across the organization’s seven domestic violence shelters. The SPOT Initiative will allow VOA-GNY to better serve survivors and their animal companions when they seek shelter, and create a more welcoming atmosphere for clients, their families, and their pets.

Pets play an important role as a source of emotional support for survivors, particularly for children, and the ability to bring a beloved family pet to the shelter helps to create a much-needed sense of normalcy in the new environment. 

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that 71 percent of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser had threatened, injured, or killed family pets and that up to 40 percent of domestic violence survivors postpone leaving their abuser or even elect not to do so out of concern for what will happen to their pets when they leave. Expanding domestic violence shelter resources for pets eliminates those obstacles and enables more survivors to leave abusive situations and find a safe environment for themselves and their pets.

VOA-GNY’s expansion of resources for pets in its shelters is thanks in large part to a generous $42,400 grant from RedRover, an animal welfare nonprofit that aims to bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster-relief services, financial assistance, and education. The grant will fund backyard dog runs and play areas at two of VOA-GNY’s confidentially-located shelters, allowing survivors the ability to spend time with their pets outdoors and give them exercise without leaving the grounds of the safehouse. The grant will also be used to distribute pet supplies to survivors in all seven VOA-GNY domestic violence shelters and fund the purchase of items including dog crates and cleaning supplies. Finally, the grant provides funds for emergency veterinary care for clients at all VOA-GNY sites, including transitional family shelters.

In addition to the veterinary funds from RedRover, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) will provide a variety of no-cost veterinary services for the pets of clients of VOA-GNY’s domestic violence and family shelters, including primary/preventative care, spay and neuter procedures, and some sick care.

Online pet supply retailer Chewy’s Chewy Gives Back directory will host a VOA-GNY wishlist, which will allow members of the public to donate cat and dog food, flea medication, and other crucial pet supplies directly to VOA-GNY’s shelters.

In recognition of these initiatives and to help survivors of domestic violence seeking shelters that will accept their pets, My Dog Is My Home, a national nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness and their companion animals, will include VOA-GNY on its New York City resource list.

If you or someone you know is in need of safe shelter, call 1-855-643-RISE (7473) 24/7 or visit voa-gny.org/dv to chat.

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