About Pets In Crisis

29th January, 2020 | by dvconnect

About Pets in Crisis

The Pets In Crisis program provides safe accommodation, food and vet care to pets whose families have escaped domestic and family violence. The challenge for families with pets is that shelters/refuges do not allow pets. If accommodation cannot be found for the pet with family or friends, the abused often chooses to stay with their abuser for fear of what will happen to the pet if they leave without it.

The Facts about Pets In Crisis

The Pets In Crisis program exists to care for pets whose families are escaping domestic and family violence.
The majority of refuges/shelters in Queensland do not allow pets. This results in many people staying in abusive relationships because they are scared of what might happen to them if they are left with the abuser.
The program was established in 2005 and is a collaboration between DVConnect and the RSPCA Queensland.
Once admitted into the program, the RSPCA Queensland provides each pet with safe accommodation, healthy food daily, required vaccinations, microchipping and they are desexed. In many cases the pet is given additional veterinary care to help pre-existing conditions. These conditions may be a result of the abuser hurting the family pet, or not allowing finances to be spent on vital vaccinations or care it is sick/injured.
The program cares for almost 300 pets each year.
Pets can stay in the program for up to 28 days but the average day the pets stayed in the program in 2018-19 was 34 days.
Any type of pet is accepted, provided there is a suitable place for them to be cared for. This could mean a cat, dog, horse, goat, guinea pig etc.

The Pets In Crisis program is only accessible by calling the DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811, anytime 24/7, 365 days a year.

The link between domestic violence and pets

For any pet lover whose animal is part of the family the thought of leaving them behind in an emergency is unthinkable. Sadly pets are often abused as part of the spectrum of domestic and family violence. DVConnect counsellors regularly speak with people whose pets are beaten or tortured by abusive partners. The abuser does this to frighten and control the victim into staying in the violent relationship. RSPCA Queensland’s Inspectorate frequently investigates animal cruelty cases of this nature.

Women, children and their beloved pets across Queensland are constrained in violent relationships because the practical challenges of leaving are too overwhelming. These women are torn between protecting themselves and their children and the increased risk for their pets if they leave them behind. This is where our Pets In Crisis program helps. Knowing their pets will be safe and that they’ll be reunited once they can get back on their feet can be the catalyst for leaving abuse.

How you can help

Become a Foster Carer?

Check out all you need to know about becoming a foster carer.

Donate

A donation of any amount helps hugely. If you can donate, please do so here.

Fundraise for Pets In Crisis

14th November, 2019 | by dvconnect

You can help by fundraising for Pets In Crisis

We strongly believe that no pets should be at risk of being abused and no one should feel that they can’t leave a violent home!

Pets are part of our families so the the thought of leaving them behind in an emergency is unthinkable! When someone is faced with the decision of leaving a domestic and family violence situation and they have pets, the logistics of leaving can be even more frightening. They need to think of where their pet will go once they leave. Can they stay with a friend? Does their abuser know where that friend lives? The majority of womens shelters/refuges do not allow pets. If they leave the pet with the abuser, what will happen? Will it increase the risk that their pets will (if they are not already affected) become the victims of the violence?

If there are no safe options for their pet, our Pets In Crisis program helps. But we need your help to continue providing the service.

There are lots of ways you can help the pets of Queenslanders who have escaped domestic and family violence. Below are just some ideas to start you thinking.

Cutest Pet Photo Competition

Invite your animal loving colleagues to enter a photo of their pet into the competition.
Then, invite all your workmates to attend the Photo Competition, perhaps in the Tea Room, where all photos are laid out on a table, and have a jar/glass next to them.
Ask your workmates to place a donation into the jar next to the photo they think is the cutest.
The jar with the most donations, is declared the Cutest Pet.
Don’t forget to let us know you’re fundraising by emailing

Pet-Owner Look-A-Like Competition

Invite your animal loving colleagues to enter a photo of them and their beloved pet into the competition.
Then, invite all your workmates to attend the Photo Competition, perhaps in the Tea Room, where all photos are laid out on a table, and have a jar/glass next to them.
Ask your workmates to place a donation into the jar next to the photo they think is the cutest.
The jar with the most donations, is declared the Winner of the Pet-Owner Look-A-Like Competition.
Don’t forget to let us know you’re fundraising by emailing

Bake Sale

Get your bake on! Whip up your favourite cupcakes, cakes or slices and sell them at your workplace.
You could even encourage your workmates to do the same so you have more to share.
Invite your colleagues to attend the morning tea in exchange for a donation to raise funds for DVConnect to help more Queenslanders escape violent relationships.
Don’t forget to let us know you’re fundraising by emailing

How your fundraising helps the animals

$26 can provide a homeless dog/cat with a warm bed, litter tray, and a meal
$53 could buy antibiotics for a sick dog/cat this week to help them on the road to recovery
$100 can help keep an RSPCA inspector on the road fighting animal cruelty for another day
$150 could help desex an abandoned dog/cat ready for them to find their forever home
$350 could provide emergency treatment for 30 cats/dogs

10 facts about our Pets In Crisis Program

1st July, 2019 | by dvconnect

10 facts about our Pets In Crisis Program

The Pets In Crisis Program exists to care for pets whose families are escaping domestic violence.
A lot of refuges do not accept pets, so many people decide to stay in a domestic violence situation for fear of what might happen to their pet if they leave. Sadly, our counsellors regularly speak to people whose intimate partners use violence or threats of it towards their pets – in order to frighten and control them into staying.
Established in 2005, the Program is a collaboration between DVConnect and the RSPCA Queensland.
Each pet is given safe accommodation, food, and in most cases veterinary care.
The Program cares for almost 300 pets each year.
BUT, last financial year we were forced to turn away 2-3 pets every week because we don’t have enough funding or safe accommodation to care for them.
Pets can stay in the program for up to 28 days.
Any pet is accepted, provided there is a suitable place for them to be cared for.
Each pet is given a thorough health check by an RSPCA veterinarian. Sadly though, a lot of pets from domestic violence situations haven’t received the medical care they should have in their lives. This means more vet care is needed, which means more costs.
The minimum cost to operate the Pets In Crisis Program is $150,000. This increases when the number of animals needing help increases.
To access this program, you must speak with the DVConnect team. Please call anytime on 1800 811 811, they are available to chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, DVConnect can help you find a pathway to safety, away from violence. The DVConnect helplines are:

Womensline 1800 811 811, available 24/7
Mensline 1800 600 636 available from 9am – midnight, 7 days
Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120, available from 7.30am – 11.30pm, 7 days.
For more visit www.DVConnect.org.

For more, contact

Pets In Crisis

23rd February, 2019 | by excitemedia

Pets in Crisis Program

The Pets In Crisis program provides safe accommodation, food and vet care to pets whose families have escaped domestic and family violence, but who cannot take them to a shelter/refuge and have no family/friends who can care for their pet while they find safe, alternative accommodation.

The Facts

The Pets In Crisis program exists to care for pets whose families are escaping domestic and family violence.
The majority of refuges/shelters in Queensland do not allow pets. This results in many people staying in abusive relationships for the sake of their pets as they are scared what will happen to them if they left them with their abuser.
Established in 2005, the program is a collaboration between DVConnect and the RSPCA Queensland.
Once in the Pets In Crisis program, the RSPCA Queensland provides each pet with safe accommodation, healthy food daily, required vaccinations, microchipping and they are desexed. Also, in a lot of cases, the pet is given additional veterinary care to help pre-existing conditions that may be a result of the abuser hurting the family pet, or not allowing finances to be spent on the pet for vital yearly vaccinations or help when it is sick or injured.
The Program cares for almost 300 pets each year.
Pets can stay in the program for up to 28 days but the average day the pets stayed in the program in 2018-19 was 34 days.
Any type of pet is accepted, provided there is a suitable place for them to be cared for. This could mean a cat, dog, horse, goat, guinea pig etc.
On average, it costs the RSPCA Queensland a minimum of $150,000 to operate the Pets In Crisis Program, this increases when the number of animals needing help increases. If you can help by donating please do so here.

How can I get my pet in the Pets In Crisis Program?

To access this program, you must speak with the DVConnect team. Please call anytime on 1800 811 811, they are available to chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The link between domestic violence and pets

Sadly pets are often abused as part of the spectrum of domestic violence. Domestic violence counsellors regularly speak with people whose pets are beaten or tortured by abusive partners. The abuser do this to frighten and control the victim into staying in the violent relationship. RSPCA Queensland’s Inspectorate frequently investigates animal cruelty cases of this nature.

For any pet lover whose animal is part of the family – the thought of leaving them behind in an emergency is unthinkable! For hundreds of pet lovers, the decision is made all the more difficult when the need to leave is due to escalating or persistent domestic or family violence. Sadly – hundreds of women, children and their beloved pets across Queensland are constrained in violent and fearful relationships because the fear and practical challenges of leaving are just too overwhelming. These already emotionally drained and mostly financially strapped women are torn between protecting themselves and their children and the increased risk that their dear pets will (if they are not already affected) become the victims of the violence if they leave them behind

No pets should be at risk of being abused and no one should feel that they can’t leave a violent home!

How can this happen?

Places available in refuges for the victims of domestic and family violence are scarce, and in Queensland none are able to accommodate pets. DVConnect counsellors regularly speak to women whose intimate partners use violence or threats of it towards their pets – in order to frighten and control them into staying. And for the children – moving without their special companions at this time compounds the loss and makes the trauma they are facing in their family life that much more intense. Knowing that their pets will be cared for and that they can be reunited as soon as they can get back on their feet is sometimes the catalyst for many women having the courage to take that vital step towards leaving a violent domestic situation and protecting themselves their children and just as importantly their pets.

Pets In Crisis

Search Results for: pets in crisis