BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A Belleville animal shelter is helping survivors of domestic abuse by fostering their fur babies while they recover.
Leaving pets can weigh on domestic violence victims.
Savannah McDonald, co-executive director of the Belleville Area Humane Society, learned that one of their own was being affected.
"We actually had a staff member who was experiencing domestic violence. They were looking for some sort of temporary housing, some sort of crisis housing for their pet, couldn't really find anything," McDonald said.
Many domestic violence shelters don't accept pets.
That's when the Humane Society knew they could help more survivors by creating the "Safe Pets Program," the first of its kind in southern Illinois to provide temporary care and a haven for pets of domestic violence survivors.
"If there are other shelters, doing this in the Metro East, that would be awesome. But as far as I know, we're the only one," said McDonald.
The Belleville Area Humane Society partnered with the Violence Prevention Center, a domestic violence shelter in Belleville.
"A lot of people will not leave their abuser, because oftentimes, the abuser will threaten to hurt their pet. Our pets are like family. And so to leave them is leaving them in a dangerous situation. So they stay they choose to stay in that situation," said Darlene Jones, the executive director of the Violence Prevention Center Southwestern Illinois.
Nearly half of victims stay in abusive situations rather than leave their pets behind, according to Purina's Purple Leash Project.
"It's kind of like, what comes first? Do I leave and leave my pet in a dangerous situation? Or do I just stay? The Humane Society provides them with a choice of what they want to do and how they want to do it," said Jones.
The Violence Prevention Center runs its crisis hotline for domestic violence victims 24 hours a day. If a survivor has a pet that needs shelter, the Violence Prevention Center will contact the Belleville Area Humane Society.
"The Humane Society is like an angel that has said we're here. Not only will they take them in, but if they need shots or medication or need to be spayed or neutered, they take care of all of that for free," Jones said.
The Safe Pets Program provides a safe place and cares for the animal for a minimum of 90 days, but it can be up to six months.
"What is our why? Keeping people and their pets together. Anything we can do to keep a person and her pet together? We're going to do it. We want you to get your pet back," McDonald said. "This is not a program where you give up your pet, and you don't ever see it again like reunification is always our goal. We can do more of this. So I hope that there isn't anyone in the Metro East who's going through domestic abuse and avoiding leaving an unsafe situation because of their pet because there's an answer. We're here. We can do it."
McDonald says it's a special moment when they get to reunite the animals with their owners.
"Ideally, reunification is the goal. This has been one of our favorite programs because the people that we work with are so resilient and so grateful. If it's been 90 days or it's been six months, like a dog knows you. When they see their person and they get to go home they leave. It is the absolute best," McDonald said.
While the Safe Pets Program was created three years ago, McDonald said many people don't know that they offer this, which is why they want to spread the word.
"We have found that people don't know about this program. We can do more. I think there's fear of bringing your animal to the shelter like people sometimes don't want to come here because they think it'll be sad. It's not sad," McDonald said. "We take excellent care of the animals, and a lot of times, they go to foster homes. It's safe, it's stable and it's good. If anybody is out there thinking that this program could benefit them, they should go for it. Because we're here and we're ready for them."
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence in the Metro East area and is considering leaving but doesn't want to leave your pet behind, you can call the Violence Prevention Center's 24-hour crisis hotline for help or call 618-235-0892.
For more information on the Violence Prevention Center's 24-hour crisis hotline and resources, click here.
To donate to the violence shelter, click here.
For more information on how to donate to the Belleville Area Humane Society, click here.