The post below originally appeared on this blog on August 4, 2010. While trying to choose a topic for today’s Blog the Change, I kept coming back to this issue. Victims of domestic violence may delay leaving a dangerous situation for fear of leaving their pets behind. The Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Program is an effort to create opportunities for victims of domestic violence and their pets to be safe and stay together. I think it’s a really important cause, and it seemed worthy of posting again. In addition, National PAWS Day was October 5, so it seemed like the perfect time to resurrect this post.
At the end of this post, find out how you can participate in Blog the Change (sponsored by our friends at Be the Change for Animals). You will also find links to all of the other blogs participating in Blog the Change. I encourage you to check out these blogs – many great causes out there. Finally, if you’re interested in reading my July entry for Blog the Change, check it out here: Share the Love & Rescue a Pup.
Your regularly scheduled No Frown Friday will return next week.
Update (1/16/11): The PAWS Program is no longer at American Humane. However, you can read up on its current status here.
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| Bella’s serious face |
Every now and then, I get serious for a moment. Today is one of those days.
When you give your heart to a dog, you get so much in return. In addition to unconditional love, a furry friend (like my Bella) provides companionship, comic relief and so much more. Seeing my pup after a long day always makes me smile, and snuggling with her while sharing my troubles helps melt away the stress of the day.
We always talk about rescuing animals, but sometimes an animal rescues its person. I read a moving story yesterday courtesy of the lovely folks over at FIDO Friendly Blog called “The Dog Who Saved Me From Abuse.” The author tells the story of how adopting Baby (a Chiweenie – great breed name, right?) changed her life. She was stuck in an abusive relationship with no way out – at first, Baby gave her an excuse to get out of the house, and then Baby’s unconditional love helped the author survive and find the strength to leave. It’s an inspirational tale, and I hope you will take a moment to read it. Grab some tissues. In fact, you may want to have your pup handy – I know I needed a Bella hug when I finished reading.
The post also contains information about a great program that I want to share with you. It’s called the Pets and Women’s Shelters Program (aka the PAWS Program). American Humane developed this program to encourage domestic and family violence emergency housing shelters to allow residents to bring their pets with them. (This post is getting a bit long, so you can find the remainder after the jump. I have lots of info to share with you today.)
Allowing residents to bring their pets with them to these shelters recognizes both the comfort that pets provide and the importance of the human-animal bond. Further, it removes one more obstacle that might discourage people from getting out of abusive relationships – if they can bring their pets to the shelter with them, then they don’t have to worry about leaving their furry friend behind. (There is often a link between domestic violence and pet abuse – both human and furry family members may be in danger.) Keeping domestic violence victims and their pets together is an important mission – I encourage you to learn more about the PAWS Program and what you can do to help.
The United States Humane Society also has a program to help victims of domestic violence and their pets – it’s called Safe Havens for Animals. This program aims to provide temporary housing for victims’ pets when a shelter cannot accommodate them. The goal is the same – to give people and their pets a way out of abusive situations. As noted above, animal cruelty and human violence often go hand in hand. The more options out there, the better.
If you want to read more about this issue, I’ve rounded up a few other links:
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline has a great blog post entitled “Save a Pet, Save a Life,” which contains links to other useful information.
- Change.org talks about how to protect animal victims of domestic violence.
- The ASPCA also has information about the connection between domestic violence and animal cruelty.
This concludes today’s serious interlude.
To find out how you can participate in Blog the Change, go here. You can also add your BtC post using the list below. While you’re at it, visit some of the other blogs participating in Blog the Change:
Wow great post and thank you for participating 🙂
Woof! Woof! Thanks fr the information n will definitely check the links. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Thanks for stopping by! Great post for a worthy cause. I LOVE Bella's serious face! I'm now a friendly follower! Happy Friday!
This is a very important issue, and kind of one close to my heart. Thank you very much for taking the time to write about it.
I'm trying to compile a list of welfare organisations. The PAWS Program should definitely be on there. I can't believe I haven't heard of it before and I'm grateful to you for the awareness.
what a perfect post for today. Dogs rescuing a HUMAN from an abusive situation is something I hadn't thought about until reading your most heartfelt post. Thanks so much for sharing this important topic!
I am now your newest follower!
Cat Chat http://opcatchat.blogspot.com, oh and thanks for visiting my blog too! 🙂
Gosh, this is a terrific post about a Most Wonderful program! I wish no human or four-legger would ever have anyone hurt them EVER! But it's good to know that there are peoples out there who want to help.
Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie
Excellent post! Thanks for sharing it. Lots of love, Holly and mom
Wonderful post. And, it's so true. Many years ago I founded Denver Safe House for Battered Women and working with a number of other shelters in Colorado. It was so heartbreaking that the abusers terrorized EVERYONE in the family, including the pets. It made me sick. I so glad today that steps are being taken to care for the animals.
Thanks so much to all of you for your comments. Deborah, that's wonderful that you founded a safe house for women… we're lucky that there are people like you out there!
That was Terrific! Thanks for being the change fur sure!!!
Thank you for this post and sharing with us such a great program!
Sharon/Cleo
@grouchypuppy
What a great post! I can't wait to hear more:)
Thank you for sharing the information about PAWS! Have a good blog hop!
PAWS ROCKS! and your Bella really is beautiful. thank you for what you do!
Thanks for this great post! I am looking forward to reading more of your links. This is such an important topic – and you are right abuse is abuse and must end!
Your pal, Pip
What an awesome post! I haven't ever heard of this wonderful organization until now.
Many years ago, I was a victim of domestic violence (yes, you don't think it will ever happen to you) and the most important thing to me was protecting my sweet puppy dog from any of it. I was strong, got a restraining order and got out of the relationship before I was literally almost killed.
I have since found true love and now have the most amazing, gentle and sweet husband a woman could ever ask for. God bless all of those women out there who don't get out and need help. Thank you for your post. I will definitely donate to their cause! 🙂
~ Park Avenue Chihuahua
This is a great post! We will definitely go read about it! It's great to know that shelters of all kinds are recognizing we're as much as part of the family as the humans and are allowing us to stay with our people when times get tough! Thanks for sharing this!
The Road Dogs
The PAWS programs sounds like a truly great idea. Thanks for alerting me to it.
Park Avenue Chihuahua – thank you for sharing your story. I'm so happy that you were able to escape a horrible situation and that you have now found all of the happiness that you deserve with someone who treats you right. Lots of hugs to you today.
ROO,ROO, I followed you back to say thank you for stopping by and found your wonderful post. What great info.
Y'all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Welcome, Hawk! 🙂