Butler County Humane Society, VOICe team up with new program
Dogs are often called “man’s best friend,” because they are one of the few animals that can pick up on a human’s emotions and reflect it in their own behavior.
Cari Ciancio, executive director of the Butler County Humane Society, said the organization has partnered with VOICe to help victims escape an abusive situation while also finding asylum for their pets.
“When they are in a violent situation, it is rough on them, too,” Ciancio said. “What this does is provide an opportunity to take care of these animals, get them out of a stressful situation, so that both the owner and the animal can get into a safe housing situation.”
Ciancio said she had wanted to start an agreement with VOICe since last year, after having a similar partnership at a previous job with an area domestic abuse shelter.
Through this new partnership, a person seeking asylum from domestic abuse can leave their pet with a foster home, facilitated through the humane society, until that person can find permanent housing.
“The reality is we're offering them a short term solution, but it's to get them to that long-term outcome, which is housing and safety for the victim and their pet,” Ciancio said. “It gives them an opportunity to get their animal back, get back their support animal and be at home again in a safe environment.”
Tracy Veri, executive director of VOICe, said Thursday that many people have not left an abusive situation because they didn’t want to leave their pet with an abuser. An abuser may even threaten harm to a pet to keep someone from leaving their situation.
“What we have noticed is many times, sadly, we'll have people call us for emergency stays and have animals we're not equipped to handle,” Veri said. “This will allow those people who are hesitant to come to services.”
The program has already gotten support from foster home keepers and donors, Veri said.
“The outpouring of support that we have received has been heartwarming; people signing up to be foster homes,” she said. “When we get a client in with a pet, we can go right into providing that essential care they might need.”
Veri also said VOICe and the humane society are having a fundraiser Feb. 18 to gather donations that will be used to purchase more food for animals housed through the partnership. The Kissing Booth event takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at Honda North, 665 Evans City Road, Connoquenessing Township, where entry is free but there will be vendors and basket raffles to raise money.
Ciancio said the process of matching a pet to a foster home will be confidential from the side of the foster person, and the identity of the victim will not be revealed. Additionally, the humane society will maintain medical procedures with fostered animals, and will spay or neuter a pet in the program if needed.
The humane society is always looking for new foster families, Ciancio said, and she encouraged anyone interested to contact the organization to sign up “out of the goodness of their heart.”
“We're looking for fosters and primarily homes with dog friendly dogs and dogs that are friendly with cats,” she said. “Everything is going to be completely confidential and that is to protect the women and men in these situations.”
To sign up to be a foster home for the humane society, visit its website at butlercountyhs.org.
