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Paws for Kids was started by a group of women who recognised that there is a gap in the provision of services to women and their families who were escaping from violent homes. While refuges could accommodate women and their children, they could not take in any pets belonging to the family. Animals had to be either left behind to suffer at the hands of the violent man, given away to someone else or even put down. Often women remain in a violent relationship rather than have to abandon their pets to a violent fate or give them away permanently.
Paws for Kids fostering service offers some peace of mind for women and their children, knowing their pets are safe while they await re-housing from a refuge.
For more information about how harm to animals is an aspect of domestic violence, click here.
Our work does not end there. Research into the effects of living with violence is well documented. Sadly therapeutic services for women & children are in short supply. Paws for Kids acknowledged that various specialist support services are available through local authorities, schools, the NHS and the voluntary sector.
However, there is often a failure to access or maintain contact with these services.
Too often there is a repeat cycle between new home, original home and/or refuges, due to a failure to re-settle and cope as a family in a new community.
There is a need to provide bespoke support and care for all the family to complement other specialist services and to maximise take-up of services.
Paws for Kids ‘Safe Haven’ Project Offers home based support to assist each family member in:
- getting over particular experiences of domestic violence;
- finding ways of settling in, making new friends and coping with their new experiences;
- developing problem solving and coping strategies, both in terms of practical problems, as well as dealing with their emotions
- Addressing early signs of anti-social behaviour.
- taking up and accessing specialist support services;
What We Provide for Women & Children
- One-to-one work with each member of the family.
- Whole family group work.
- Peer support groups or projects for parents and children respectively.
- Referrals to other services with ongoing support,
- Mediation and advocacy as necessary.
- Coaching and experiential learning.
- Joint working with special inputs such as art and drama, outdoor pursuits, leisure.
"In my case, staying at home and suffering beatings on a daily basis became more acceptable to me than leaving with the children without their pets."