The decision to leave an abusive situation can be made even more difficult for a victim if it means leaving a pet behind because a shelter is not equipped to host animals.
In the latest edition of the Justice Today podcast, learn how the need for secure housing for victims of crime and their companion animals led to the creation of the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program.
This podcast features a conversation between Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Director Kristina Rose and Nancy Blaney, Director of Government Affairs at the Animal Welfare Institute. Together they take listeners on a journey through the creation of the program and the difference it makes in the lives of victims and their pets.
Pets are an important part of the lives of many people and, rather than being a barrier to receiving services, they can be an important source of comfort, companionship, and healing for victims of crime.
By working together to address the intersection of violence among people and animals we can make our communities safer.
The Office of Justice Programs’ Justice Today podcast explores cutting-edge research and practices and offers an in-depth look at what OVC and its partner offices are doing to meet the biggest public safety challenges of our time. Listen to more Justice Today podcasts.