• Living Ruff
• Pets of Older Persons
• Safe Beds for Pets
• Indigenous Community Dog Health Program
• Community Animal Welfare Scheme
• Dog Rehabilitation Program

The Safe Beds for Pets program was established to provide temporary housing for pets of people who are seeking refuge from domestic violence and to address the link between animal and human abuse and child protection. The safe beds program is not a long-term solution to the housing of the pet, but it gives domestic violence victims peace of mind and allows them to secure their own safety and make arrangements for the future. It is common practice for the perpetrator of domestic violence to lure family members back home by threatening to harm the pet. With the Safe Beds for Pets Program families can now leave domestic violence situations and not fear for the safety of their pets.

Safe Beds for Pets is specifically designed to help victims of domestic violence. In most cases, these animals are referred through to the RSPCA from a domestic violence counselling service.

Where possible, clients pay the veterinary and boarding fees at the time of service. All cases will be assessed on an individual basis.

For more information please email safebeds@rspcansw.org.au or phone: (02) 9770 7555.

Safe Beds for Pets Checklist:

• Please let us know if your pet has any health problems or is on medication.
• Provide as much information as you can on your pet’s behaviour. This will assist with settling your pet into their emergency accommodation as quickly as possible.
• Keep in regular contact with the Safe Beds for Pets Coordinator who can give you updates on your pet’s welfare and assist with getting you and your pet back together again as soon as possible.
• We want to help keep you and your pet safe – please keep information about your pet’s emergency accommodation confidential.

RSPCA NSW would like to sincerly thank the Becher Foundation for their recent, further donation of $65,000 to support the RSPCA NSW Safe Beds for Pets program. In 2009, the Foundation also made a generous donation of $50,000 to support this vital program.

The Becher Foundation is a small private philanthropic organisation founded in 2004 dedicated to fostering a humane, tolerant society that respects diversity and encourages inclusion. The Becher Foundation's priority is social innovation and structural change and their purpose is to support innovative projects aimed at alleviating disadvantage and inequality in our society.

Recent submission published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), Volume 191, Number 7, 5 October 2009 - www.mja.com.au "Cruelty towards the family pet: a survey of women experiencing domestic violence on the Central Coast, NSW" by Cheryl Travers, Andrew Dixon, Karen Thorne and Kaye Spicer.

CLICK HERE to read a summary of the MJA submission.

Safe Beds for Pets program launches in the Hunter and Hunter Valley Region

In July 2010, Minister for Women and Minister for the Hunter, Jodi McKay, launched Safe Beds for Pets in the Hunter Valley and Hunter region and announced a $50,000 grant to support the RSPCA's vital program.

“Sadly pets are often the silent or forgotten victims in domestic violence situations,” Ms McKay said. “Safe Beds for Pets is an innovative and important program, which gives people the option of leaving domestic violence situations without fearing for the safety of their pets”.

Member for Maitland, Frank Terenzini, said it was disgraceful that some abusive partners used actual or threatened harm to pets to keep their partner in the relationship.

“Domestic Violence is an abhorrent crime in itself and it is even more abhorrent to think that some people will also abuse their partner’s pets,” Mr Terenzini said. “I applaud the RSCPA for its wonderful work in helping to stamp out domestic violence. Safe Beds for Pets gives victims peace of mind that their pet is safe when they leave violent relationships and make arrangements about their future. ”

RSPCA NSW CEO, Steve Coleman said as part of the commitment to running programs that assist both pet owners and their pets, RSPCA NSW is proud to expand the Safe Beds for Pets program into the Hunter region.

“During the last financial year alone, the Safe Beds for Pets program arranged for the care of over 100 pets of domestic violence victims,” Mr Coleman said.“We greatly appreciate the support and financial assistance received by Ms McKay, Mr Terenzini and the NSW Government today. Such support will help the RSPCA continue this vital community program and most importantly, continue to assist victims of domestic violence and their pets.”