DEIRDRE GRAHAM
Twelve years ago Jennifer Howard fled domestic violence to take cover in a women’s shelter.
She had no option but to leave behind her beloved staffy and rottweiler – and live with the knowledge they probably ended their lives being euthanised in a pound.
Last week she was in the Riverland to launch her program Safe Pets Safe Families, which aims to help women fleeing violence to keep their pets with them.
“I had them since they were puppies, and they were eight years old when this happened,” Miss Howard said.
“They were my kids’ first best friends, and they were my first babies before I had kids, and it was absolutely heart breaking.
“I suppose the trauma and heartbreak of losing my animals impacted me more than what the domestic violence ever could, and it haunted me, and I didn’t want anyone else to experience the heartbreak of losing their animals because of a crisis – so I started Safe Pets Safe Families.
“I sort of thought it would be this small, low-key program in Adelaide, but I never could have imagined how big the need was.
“This has led to where we are today, going into rural areas because the domestic violence network out here has been asking us for a while to come to the Riverland.”
Safe Pets Safe Families is now looking for Riverlanders to become a pet foster carers, and/or help with fundraising for food and vet care.
Spokesperson Dana Barnes said the only personal requirement was to love animals.
“You have to have a loving home to offer temporarily to an animal that just needs a little helping hand while their owner gets back on their feet,” Miss Barnes said.
“The foster program originally started with domestic violence (victims), but we now help people who are experiencing homelessness, and we also help people who have had a health crisis – whether that be mental health or physical health - and they need to go to hospital to get themselves looked after.
“We will look after their pets if they have no friends or family that can support them in that way.
“It is a temporary thing if you are fostering, and we generally can supply all the food and supplies you need. You just need to offer the loving home.”
Miss Barnes said the visit to Berri last week to run some open sessions with the help of Life Without Barriers proved fruitful.
“We had some vets come and see us, who we are interested in partnering with, and doing some work in the community – (things like) pop-up vet clinics to help homeless people and people at risk of homelessness with basic vet care,” Miss Barnes said.
“We have had some nursing staff come through that have come across people who needed help with their pets, and we have had some people from domestic violence action groups, so it has been warm and inviting.”
Miss Howard said it was common for people experiencing domestic violence to delay leaving because of their pets, and that perpetrators of domestic violence were often also violent towards the animals.
“We have some real horror stories around that,” Miss Barnes said.
“Right now there are some amazing organisations that help the humans, but their hands are tied a little bit when it comes to helping animals, and they often do that out of the kindness of their own hearts.
“They might bring an animal to their own house, or they might sneak an animal in somewhere – but a lot of domestic violence accommodation for the people escaping is not pet friendly.
“It might be motel accommodation where you are not allowed to have pets, so there is a real gap and real need that we are wanting to hopefully address.
“We have got a really good working model for this charity in Adelaide, so we are excited to bring it over here, and see what we can offer.”
Any Riverland residents who would like to help, as a foster carer, by donating food or providing vet care, can contact Annette Wall at Life Without Barriers on 8580 5509.
Alternatively Safe Pets Safe Families can be reached at admin@safepetssafefamilies.org.au. People in crisis can ring 0490 818 879.