Ignored No Longer

One of Haven! CA's information booths at a community event.

Here in the US, there has been an increase in services for those who have experienced domestic violence. Even within the health care field, there has been a growing recognition that service providers need to assess patients for the occurrence of domestic violence. But, for too long, there has been one category of being that has been ignored, those are the pets in households where domestic violence has occurred.

Amarila Blondila  has been particularly aware of the issue of pets involved in these dangerous situations. She noted that no shelters in southern California accept both victims of domestic violence and their family pets. For many victims, that has meant being trapped in a dangerous situation, because, as most animal lovers know, they wouldn't leave their pets behind.



There had to be some way to address this dilemma, and that's what Amarila, herself a survivor of domestic abuse and also a law school graduate, set out to do when she founded HAVEN! CA, INC.

Currently, Haven! CA provides emergency sheltering for any pet for up to 60 days through a network of veterinarians, foster families, and boarding facilities. It helps victims of domestic violence develop a safety plan, that includes accommodations for their pets. The organization also provides pet food, supplies, and services once the victims get established in a safer setting. Also, in the area of outreach, the group strives to keep the issue of including pets into the entire picture of what occurs in domestic violence situations and planning for the families to move forward.

Future plans for the group include a pet therapy program to provide comfort to family members affected by domestic violence, provision for emergency hotel stays, a pet deposit fund to help family members who are renting new apartments, and a proactive school program which would teach students how to handle problems without putting hands on someone.

What I like about this organization is that it fills in gaps that have existed in the system of care for victims of domestic violence. There is not only addressing the issue at hand, but also ways of preventing violence as a way to address problems. It often takes someone, like Amarila, who has been in those shoes, to provide more answers.

A woman is reunited with her dog.

Thanks to this article by Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/amarilla-blondia-haven-ca-inc/; and information from the organization, itself.

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