When domestic violence victims with pets consider fleeing abusive homes and there is no safe place to house their pets, they have little choice but to remain in their homes and subject themselves, their children and their pets to continued violence, or to flee and leave their pets behind.

Because victims understand the extent of the harm that their abusers will likely inflict upon their pets, if left behind, many victims remain in violent relationships.

Knowing this fact FM Humane Society has been exploring the feasibility of starting a program to assist those who need help with their pets to leave an abusive situation.

Our work started with researching nationwide programs that provide services to family pets that are leaving an abusive situation. It did not take long for us to realize that our shelter was too small to provide on-site service to these animals that need our help, but we were determined not to be limited with our limitations. That is when we decided to get creative.

We knew that collaboration with other agencies and developing a network of reliable foster families were going to be the key to the success of this program. And we did exactly that.

Together, the YWCA, Rape and Abuse Crises Center, a local Veterinary hospital and the FM Humane Society worked out the details as to how to provide a safe and confidential program to assist those who need to leave an abusive situation.

One local veterinary hospital offered their services at a considerable discount for these pets; Jordahl Custom Homes and a grant from the Red River Area Learning Center Pay Program provided the start up funds. The result is the Safe Paws Program.

The Safe Paws Program is a collaborative effort partnership between the FM Humane Society, the Rape and Abuse Crises Center, YWCA of Cass Clay and a local veterinary clinic.

It is modeled after the national programs that provides assistant to families who are fleeing abusive situation with their pets. The program will provide temporary foster care for a period of 45 days for the pets of those who are impacted by domestic violence.

The program serves Cass and Clay counties and will accept cats and dogs only.

FM Humane Society will be handling the selection and approval of all foster families into this program and will match pets with the foster families.

When Rape and Abuse Crises Center or the YWCA has a client who has a pet that needs to be accepted into the Safe Paws Program, FM Humane Society will work with the client to place the pet in a carefully screened and pre-selected foster family.

More foster families are still needed; interested families can fill out the Safe Paws Foster Family Form or contact the FM Humane Society for more information.

The Safe Paws Program Logo has been designed by Angie Vetter of Aardvark Graphics.