Helping the silent sufferers of domestic abuse

After five months of planning, preparing and planning some more, the day had arrived! Yesterday saw the launch of the PetRetreat nationwide appeal for fosterers.

RSPCA PetRetreat fosters animals belonging to people fleeing domestic violence.

All too often, women and men find themselves trapped in abusive relationships and feel unable to leave through fear of what may happen to their pets if they are left behind. Quite understandably, temporary accommodation and refuges tend to not allow pets.

PetRetreat looks after these special animals, who may have been victims of abuse themselves, until they can be reunited with their owners in a new safe and secure home.

Over the years since PetRetreat was launched in 2002, dedicated staff at PetRetreat have heard some harrowing tales. Take Petra, the loyal family dog, who had to have her leg amputated when it was left so badly damaged after being repeatedly abused by someone’s partner. Another lady who asked for our help said her dog used to put himself between her violent partner and their children to try and protect them.

This year has seen a record number of people asking for PetRetreat’s help with more than 100 calls being handled every week. On lots of occasions, people would like us to care for more than one animal so we have to try and find foster homes for hundreds of cats and dogs every month. But, this has become an almost impossible feat with a network of only 80 fosterers throughout England and Wales – only one being over the Welsh border.

So, after all the preparation, the media appeal for fosterers was launched on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning. The scheme was given wonderful publicity and it got our phone lines ringing. By Midday, nearly 400 people had applied which was an overwhelming response.

I can only say thank you to everyone who came forward wanting to make a difference to lives of people suffering domestic violence. With your help, we can help to stop them from living in fear and provide a new lease of life for their pets who are the silent sufferers of such tragic situations.

If you think you could open your heart and home and foster an animal through PetRetreat, call 0300 123 8000 or log onto www.rspca.org.uk/petretreat