Domestic violence does not just affect the human family, it also affects the pets in the home. 88% of families investigated for physical abuse also reported animal abuse. 70% of domestic violence Survivors report having a pet, and 71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported seeing animal abuse in the home from their abuser.
These statistics mean that Survivors often delay leaving abusive homes out of fear for what might happen to their pet if they cannot take it with them. Some Survivors report having lived in their cars rather than leaving their pets behind. As many as 25% of Survivors report that they have returned to an abusive partner out of concern for their pet.
All of these reasons are why CODA is a pet friendly shelter. Though we are not able to accommodate all pets, we do our best to accommodate as many as we can.
If you are coming to stay at our shelter, you should disclose that you have a pet to see if we can accommodate your pet. If we cannot, we will try to find other accommodations for your pet while you stay with us.
We also have the following rules concerning pets in shelter:
- Pets cannot free roam or interact unsupervised with others. When in common areas, they must be on a leash at all times.
- If a pet is checked into CODA and is determined to be too stressed or upset for safe handling, we will work with you to transfer your pet to an animal protection organization for foster care.
- You are solely responsible for your pet at all times. You must attend to the care of your pet each day.
- Immediately clean up any messes or accidents that your pet has while on the premises of the shelter.
- If your pet requires immediate medical care upon entry to the shelter or during your stay, notify staff immediately.
- Supervise your children around all pets housed at the shelter.
- Provide a copy of each pet’s current vaccination records within 48 hours of arrival.
- If you fail to return to shelter within 24 hours, or leave shelter for any reason without notifying shelter staff, we will consider that you are abandoning your pet and CODA may place the pet for adoption.
- Upon ending your stay at the shelter, you must take your pet with you. If you leave your pet behind, you agree that ownership of the pet has been relinquished.
**These rules are not comprehensive. Please read the CODA Intake Form, CODA Pet Agreements and Consent and Release.**