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Beyond The Shelter: Expanding Safety for Survivors and Their Pets

May 6, 2025

Beyond The Shelter: Expanding Safety for Survivors and Their Pets

This April, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA partnered with the Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and highlight a critical issue: many survivors struggle to leave abusive situations because they are unsure how to protect both themselves and their pet.

Over the past month, SARA showed its support for the SPCA by participating in Fido Field Trips, during which they hosted five different dogs in their office. Dale, the first dog to take part in a field trip at SARA, was adopted shortly after his visit. Burt and Ernie, Pooh Bear, and Banjo also spent a day at the SARA office, where they enjoyed spending time with staff, going for walks on the local trail, playing with toys, and soaking up plenty of cuddle time. All four of these wonderful dogs are still available for adoption! They were an absolute delight to host and brought so much joy to the staff. Everyone at SARA is hopeful they’ll find their forever homes soon—they truly deserve it.

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Hosting these dogs in the SARA office was a reminder of how difficult it can be for people to maintain ownership and safety over their pets when experiencing violence. Oftentimes, when fleeing dangerous situations, there are no easy options for taking a pet along. The majority of safe-stay shelters do not allow survivors to bring their pets, most animal shelters do not offer short-term stays without the risk of the pet being adopted by someone else in the meantime, and many survivors are reluctant to turn over their pets to others out of fear that it could compromise their safety or reveal their location.

This often puts survivors of violence in an impossible position, unsure of where to turn for safety. Pets—especially for those experiencing trauma—provide comfort, stability, and emotional support during the most turbulent times. They are important members of the family and deserve to be protected alongside the people who love and care for them.

At SARA, we have worked with survivors whose options for shelter are increasingly limited due to their pet ownership. They may opt to live in their car, spend beyond their means on a hotel room stay, or choose to stay in a dangerous situation to maintain ownership of their pet. Survivors may choose to focus their limited resources to support their pet rather than seek help for themselves. These barriers can greatly slow down the healing process and make it harder for survivors to build the support systems they need. When forced to choose between one’s own safety and their pet’s, moving forward becomes much more complicated.

SARA hopes for a future where pets are seen not as an afterthought, but as essential parts of the healing process. Through this collaboration with the CASPCA, SARA aims to inspire deeper community dialogue and that leads to expanded resources: pet-friendly shelters, short-term foster programs, and broader networks of support that honor the full picture of a survivor’s life.

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The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is a non-profit animal shelter and community resource center located at 3355 Berkmar Drive in Charlottesville, Virginia. Established in 1914, CASPCA is proud to have served our community and their animals for over 100 years.