How you can help...
The PAAWS Program is urgently seeking support to help
agencies handle the high demand for this essential service.
Your contribution will enable Lort Smith and Berry Street
NFDVS to make a difference to families and their pets.
Presently, Berry Street NFDVS and Lort Smith are responsible for the costs of running this program. Often, women
who have had to leave the family home have not had time
to collect their belongings and don’t have the money to pay
for housing their pets, and this is where your vital donation
can help.
How to get help for
you and your pets...
For any enquiries regarding this service, including referrals to
PAAWSPlease contact:
Berry Street NFDVS: 9450 4700
For life-threatening emergencies call:
Police and/or Ambulance- 000
Can you help?
YES I would like to help!
Title………...First Name……………………………………………
Surname………………………………………………………………..
Pet Accommodation
and
Women’s Safety Program
Address………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………
State………………..…...Postcode………………………………..
Email……………………………………………………………………..
Tel.……………………………………………………………………….
I would like to make a donation of
I have enclosed my cheque/money order payable
to Lort Smith Animal Hospital
or
Please debit my Credit Card
Visa
Bankcard
MasterCard
Signature……………………………………………………………Expiry Date……………………..
Please complete this form and return it to:
PAAWS
The Development Office
Lort Smith Animal Hospital
24 Villiers Street
North Melbourne, Vic, 3051
...in partnership with...
Breaking the Silence
Understanding
Family Violence
One of the biggest challenges facing the relevant
agencies is the silence surrounding family violence.
The most important thing that you can
do to help is to speak out. If you are a
Family violence is an abuse of power.
It occurs when one person exploits a personal or
intimate relationship by means of intimidation.
victim or if you know of someone who is, you must
speak up. Talk to someone, friends, family members,
colleagues and community leaders. The links between
animal abuse and family violence are now well
established. Learn to recognise the signs of animal
abuse as a potential indicator of violence towards
While the abuse may be physical, it also manifests in
more subtle forms, controlling and threatening
behaviours, stalking or causing harm to personal property
in order to frighten and control. Family pets are often
threatened and sometimes harmed in violent homes.
Counsellors repeatedly hear stories from women who
report that their partners control and coerce them by
threatening to abuse the animals. The pets are
threatened or harmed to intimidate and control women.
 *53% of women in violent relationships reported their
pets had also been abused
 *33% of women had delayed leaving their relationship
by up to 8 weeks out of concern for the welfare of
their pets.
 *Pets were killed in 17% of households where there is
family violence.
Unfortunately family violence refuges and emergency
accommodation are unable to house the women’s pets.
Breaking the
Cycle of Abuse
No one should have to live in fear.
No one should have to feel that they have to stay in a
violent situation and this is why the Lort Smith Animal
Hospital and Berry Street Northern Family and Domestic
Violence Service (Berry Street NFDVS) are working together
to provide PAAWS.
Women who need to stay in family violence refuges or
emergency housing, but are unable to find alternative
care for their pets, can contact Berry Street NFDVS on
9450 4700. Berry Street NFDVS is able to work directly
with Lort Smith to provide temporary shelter of
companion animals at a Lort Smith facility. These animals
will receive an immediate welfare assessment and
veterinary attention, if required, can be given once the
owner has been consulted.
To support the safety of the workers and the animals and
as a measure to prevent the abuser from attempting to
reclaim the animal; it is important that the family or
woman using this service ensures that legal ownership of
their pets is established, that they are registered and/or
microchip details are current and in her name.
The animals will be looked after for up to 4 weeks or
fostered out until the women are able to re-establish
themselves in the community. NOTE: Emergency boarding
facilities at Lort Smith are limited and subject to funding. As such
admissions have to be on a first come, first served basis.
*Volant, A., Johnson, J., Gullone, E., Coleman, G. (2008) The Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse : An Australian Study
people. Don’t
just look away, take action
and speak out today!
...About Lort Smith Animal Hospital...
The Lort Smith Animal Hospital is the largest not for profit animal
hospital in the Southern Hemisphere and has a 75 year history of
caring for animals. The Hospital provides reduced cost veterinary
care for people in need as well as injured, stray and abandoned
pets that have no one to care for them. Promoting the benefits of
the human animal bond, they work closely with other community
organisations on programs that demonstrate the importance of
animals in our lives. Their emergency boarding services provide
care for pets of the elderly and infirm, victims of domestic violence
and the homeless.
...About Berry Street NFDVS...
Berry Street has been delivering Family Violence Services to
women and their children since 1989. In 2006 Berry Street,
in partnership with Women's Health in the North, Elizabeth
Hoffman House, Anglicare Family Services, Mary Anderson
Family Violence Services and Georgina & Martina Women's
Refuge successfully submitted to provide a range of
services that support women and their children who have
been affected by family violence. Berry Street provides
services including: a central intake point,
casework/outreach responses, child & adolescent
counsellors, court support, housing support &
specialist Intensive Case Management. The service is
available to the following areas; Banyule, Nillumbik,
Darebin, Whittlesea, Hume, Moreland, and Yarra
between the hours of 9am – 5pm, 24 hour support is
also available through the Northern Crisis Advocacy
Response Service. Since 1877 Berry Street has been
helping Victoria’s most vulnerable children and
families. For more information visit
berrystreet.org.au.