MEG BOLTON
The Pets in Crisis Program provides a home for animals whose owners are fleeing abuse relationships. Photo credit: RSPCA WOAW
MP Shannon Fentiman has announced a $100,000 contribution to a program which aims to help women leave abusive relationships.
The Pets in Crisis service is a ten-year-old partnership between RSPCA and DV Connect that fosters the pets of women fleeing abusive relationships.
The funding is just one recommendation implemented in Queensland off the back of the ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ report that looks at domestic violence.
The minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman, said the government felt it was an important service for them to fund.
“This is the first time that the Queensland government has recognised the value of the service, we know they’re busier than ever, more and more women are coming forward to report domestic and family violence,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Women escaping domestic and family violence can know that their pets will be cared for and fostered.”
DV Connect Chief Executive Officer, Diane Mangan said the service is vital in ensuring women with pets do not stay in abusive relationships.
“For the government to come forward and actually put significant money towards this is a massive godsend to us,” Ms Mangan said.
The Queensland Government has also revealed a plan to ensure crisis centres across the state take pets.
“Our new Brisbane and Townsville 72 hours crisis centres do accommodate pets, our new shelters in Charters Towers, Roma and two on the south east will also accommodate pets and we are doing what we can to ensure our existing refuges also accept pets,” said Ms Fentiman.
The program helped 233 victims in the past financial year alone, which cost the RSPCA $240,000 annually.
RSPCA QLD’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Townsend, said the government has really stepped up to the mark in assisting the partnership.
“The need is increasing every year, it became very hard to economically run the program with all the other pressures we have looking after all the other animals across Queensland and the government has come to the rescue to help us out,” Mr Townend said.
The RSPCA can be reached via their website.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, DV Connect can be contacted on 1800 811 811.