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Dove Lewis
Starts New Domestic Violence Support Program for Pets
Pet
Fostering Network to Kick Off National Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Month
(Portland,
Oregon April 3, 2000) Dove Lewis, Portland's only nonprofit
emergency/critical care animal hospital, announced today a
new program, Pet Fostering Network, that provides temporary
shelter for pets of domestic violence victims while they are
in local shelters.
"We are
proud to bring this important program to Portland," said Dr.
Bob Murtaugh, Dove Lewis Chief of Staff, "The link between
pet abuse and domestic violence is well documented. The fact
that mothers and children remain in an abusive home situation
because they are unwilling to leave a beloved pet behind is
not so well known. The Pet Fostering Network steps in to give
sanctuary to pets while the owners are in shelter."
In 60%
to 80% of domestic violence cases, family pets are victims
of physical abuse along with women and children. (DeViney,
Dickert & Lockwood, 1983; Arkow, 1995; Ascione, 1996)
The Pet
Fostering Network, using volunteer foster homes, provides
free emergency housing for up to three pets for two to four
weeks. When the family leaves the local shelter, the pets
are reunited with them.
The foster
homes provide food, shelter, exercise and socialization for
the pets. Because the families seeking help bring the pets
to Dove Lewis and the foster homes pick them up at a later
time, the names of the victims are protected for confidentiality
purposes. Dove Lewis provides a free health exam for each
pet and makes sure that the pets in the foster homes are protected
from disease by donating necessary inoculations and medicines
for the pets.
"We screen
our foster homes carefully," said Lisa Tomlinson, Pet Fostering
Network Coordinator, "matching the program's refugees with
like homes --cats go with cats people, dogs go with dog people
and, if there are both kinds of pets, we have those homes
covered, too."
Local
shelters are not equipped to take pets when families come
to them seeking shelter. "Over the years we have had many
women and children enter our shelter having left pets behind
them in their violent homes, " said Mark Story, Executive
Director, Raphael House. "It's heartbreaking to families to
leave their pets behind in an unsafe and violent environment.
The Dove Lewis Pet Fostering Network is a wonderful contribution
to our community. It will preserve loving family relationship
with their pets."
Pat Mohair,
the Salvation Army West Women's and Children's Shelter, said,
"Often, in a battering relationship, a woman's relationship
to her family pet may be her only source of unconditional
love. Leaving that pet behind to face the abuser is simply
not an option for many women. The Dove Lewis program helps
address the urgent need to protect the pet and help the women
get free of violent relationships."
The Jackson
Foundation has provided kick off funding for the new program
with a challenge grant of $3,000, and the Lehman Trust of
US Bank has committed $2,000 toward the program. Dove Lewis
is seeking donations from interested parties to help. Interested
people can call (503) 228-8480 for more information.
Founded
in 1973, Dove Lewis is supported by treatment fees, donations
and gifts. A referral emergency and critical care facility,
Dove Lewis serves over 12,000 animals each year. Celebrating
the human-animal bond, Dove Lewis is known for its community
service programs such as Pet Assisted Therapy, Pet Loss Support
and the Blood Donor Program. Persons interested in volunteering
with Dove Lewis or who want more information should call (503)
228-7282 or visit us on the web at www.dovelewis.org.
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