Domestic violence does not just affect the human family, it also affects the pets in the home. 88% of families investigated for physical abuse also reported animal abuse, 70% of DV survivors report having a pet and 71% of pet-owning women entering women's shelters reported seeing animal abuse in the home from their abuser.
These statistics mean that Survivors often delay leaving their abusive homes out of fear for what might happen to their pet if they cannot take it with them. Some Survivors report having lived in their cars rather than leaving their pets behind. As many as 25% of Survivors report that they have returned to an abusive partner out of concern for their pet.
All of these reasons are why CODA is a pet friendly shelter. Though we are not able to accommodate all pets, we do our best to accommodate as many as we can.
This fund was named, in loving memory, after our Survivor board member Karen's dog Peaches who was her beloved companion.