Finding solutions for victims of abuse who are afraid to leave the home for fear of what happens to the animals they leave behind. That’s one of the efforts of the Saskatchewan SPCA, with their recent local study that showed that 78 per cent of the victims of domestic violence reported animals were being abused. The provincial animal welfare group’s Animal Safekeeping Coordinator, Leanne Sillers, says finding a safe place to temporarily home animals of the victims of domestic abuse is challenging with significant gaps in services, particularly in rural and northern communities and for people who own livestock. The Saskatchewan SPCA has 2 projects on the go. The non-profit organization is working with New Hope Dog Rescue in Saskatoon to help them develop an animal safekeeping program to temporarily foster dogs for up to 90 days at no cost for victims. The SSPCA is also working with Southwest Crisis Services and the Swift Current SPCA for a similar program in that area. Sillers says the Saskatchewan SPCA is helping to develop resources in the province to remove barriers. The provincial animal welfare group is hosting its annual conference September 18th in Saskatoon. Sillers will be speaking about animal safekeeping programs at the event. Some of the other topics of their Caring For Those Who Care conference are therapy dogs for trauma situations like the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and Equine Assisted Learning, in particular the horse-human relationship in Indigenous education.
Looking For Animal Safekeeping Options in Domestic Abuse Situations
By Carol Thomson
Aug 12, 2018 | 11:54 PM
Saskatoon Weather
Studio/Text Line
306-938-0600
Toll Free Line
800-667-3727
Have Your Say
There are 170 countries meeting in Ottawa this week to work on a global plastics treaty. Do you try to avoid using single use plastics?
Yes
No
Voting Ends: Apr 24, 2024 | 10:00 AM