When designing your pet program there are many things to consider, and many ways to make a “pet plan” that works for your community.

Regardless of where and how animals will ultimately be cared for, all programs will need to consider intake and quarantine. Pets will need a safe place to stay while their owners are going through intake at the domestic violence organization, so having a crate or kennel near a case worker’s office can help this process go more smoothly. In addition, having a quarantine area at the location the pets will be staying can give pets time to acclimate to a new environment, and give vaccines, wormers, and flea medications time to work.

The rest of the program is up to the needs of the community and the space available for pets. Pets can be housed at a domestic violence organization in survivor’s rooms, in rooms dedicated to pet housing, or in kennels on the property but separate from the main shelter. They can be housed at an animal organization and kept separate from the general shelter, or a space can be purpose built for them. Domestic violence and animal organizations can even collaborate to build a foster program, so pets can be cared for in a home environment.

This information was summarized from DontForgetThePets.org, a collaboration between RedRover and Rescue Rebuild. Along with a lot of detailed information on building a pet program, Don’t Forget the Pets offers a training workshop and personal consultation through the coaching program.