In Transition With You

Safe For Pets Too (SFPT) program

Studies show that women often put off leaving an abusive relationship in fear of what will happen to their beloved animals once they are no longer around. Thanks to Safe For Pets Too program, women in New Brunswick no longer have to worry.

The “Safe For Pets Too” program launched on February 9, 2011 to provide temporary shelter and veterinary care for pets of women who are leaving an abusive relationship and who have concerns about the safety of their animals. Sheltering is provided through animal hospitals, animal shelters and private homes, giving animals a place to be taken care of for up to 30 days while the owner searches for pet-friendly housing.

This service is available for a wide variety of pets, from dogs and cats, to cows and horses. Women can access the program through transition houses, domestic violence outreach offices or the police/RCMP during an emergency. Pets are transported by an NBSPCA officer and will be examined by a veterinarian before being placed in temporary foster care. While the pet is in the care of their foster families they will be well treated and safe from the possibility of being hurt in an act of revenge. In the case of farm animals, the N.B. Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries will provide any veterinary treatment required.

Safe For Pets Too (SFPT) provides abused women in New Brunswick with a critical service, while highlighting the bond between people and their pets and the link between animal abuse and family violence. Development and administration of the program is a cooperative effort of many different individuals and agencies. Committee members represent the NBSPCA, the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association (NBVMA), police/RCMP/NB Chiefs of Police Association, NB Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, transition houses and outreach offices, Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, as well as many individuals.

Eligibility and application
The victim of domestic violence must be the owner of the animal(s) and be a client of one of the transition houses or the Domestic Violence Outreach program (DV Outreach) around the province. The client must be leaving abuse with concerns that her pet may be harmed, killed, or neglected.

The program is not an emergency service. The goal is to make arrangements for the pet(s) within two (2) business days of the intake forms being submitted.

Once the intake forms have been completed by the client and the transition house, they will be forwarded to the program’s coordinator. The program coordinator will then liaise with the NBSPCA’s Head Office with a request for our assistance.

For more information on the Safe For Pets Too program, please contact them by email at: safeforpetstoo@gmail.com. All email correspondence is 100% confidential. Please note: contact is limited to email only; there is no available phone number at this time.