SafePAWS
PAWS donates facility to Community Safety Network to house companion animals of domestic violence victims.
Jackson, WY, August 2009 – PAWS of Jackson Hole and the Community Safety Network announce the unveiling of a new kennel facility on-site at Community Safety Network shelters, the Newton House of Hope. This new feature offers victims of domestic violence the option of bringing their pet(s) with them to the shelter when fleeing an abusive relationship.
Studies show that there is a clear link between domestic violence, child abuse, and abuse of animals. These studies also indicate that 71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters report that their batterer had threatened, injured, or killed family pets.
Today in the United States there are only a handful of women’s shelters that have boarding facilities for family pets. Because victims know that most shelters cannot accept pets, this becomes a barrier to seeking help and safety.
Community Safety Network and PAWS host a collaborative program called SafePAWS which offers temporary foster homes for the companion animals of CSN shelter guests. Today they are thrilled to announce the latest enhancement to the program. Guests can now bring dogs, cats, birds, or rodents to Community Safety Network and they will be housed in an 8’ x 8’ heated, on-site, fenced kennel. The kennel is large enough that pet owners can spend time inside visiting with their pets during the day. Additionally, the kennel offers unlimited access to an outdoor lawn which provides fresh air, room to run, privacy, and security. The new facility, “Coney’s Cottage – a safe haven for pets” is named after the dog of the PAWS Board Member that started the SafePAWS program back in 2006, Maria Hayashida.
This kennel facility represents the next logical extension of the SafePAWS program and puts PAWS and the Community Safety Network at the forefront of the movement to protect people and their companion animals from violence.
For more information please call:
Amy Romaine
Executive Director
PAWS of Jackson Hole
307-734-2441
amy@pawsofjh.org
Sharel Love
Executive Director
Community Safety Network
307-733-3711
sharel@csnjh.org
www.communitysafetynetwork.org
