Our Services
Pet Advocacy
Keeping Survivors and Their Pets Together
For many survivors of domestic violence, leaving an abusive relationship can mean facing an impossible choice: seek safety or leave a beloved companion animal behind.
Younity’s Pet Advocacy Program is designed to remove that barrier.
Abusers may threaten, harm, or use companion animals as a way to intimidate and control survivors. Research shows that many pet-owning survivors delay leaving because they fear what may happen to their animals. At the same time, companion animals can provide an important source of comfort, stability, and connection throughout the healing and recovery process.
Younity’s Pet Advocacy Program is expanding our trauma-informed services so survivors do not have to choose between their own safety and the well-being of the animals they love.
Creating More Options for Survivors and Their Pets
With support from The Community Foundation of New Jersey, Younity is working to make its transitional housing program pet-friendly, allowing survivors to remain with their companion animals as they rebuild their lives.
Younity is also working with RedRover to explore developing an on-site kennel, creating additional safe options for companion animals when keeping a pet directly with a survivor is not possible.
Building a pet-friendly program involves much more than opening the door to animals. Younity has developed policies, safety protocols, training, and community partnerships designed to protect survivors, their families, staff, and companion animals.
We are proud to collaborate with Lawrence Animal Hospital, West Trenton Animal Hospital, and Robbinsville Veterinary Clinic to help connect survivors and their pets with compassionate veterinary care and support.
Removing One More Barrier to Safety
For nearly 50 years, Younity has worked to remove the barriers that can prevent survivors from reaching safety, healing, and hope.
The Pet Advocacy Program removes one more.
No survivor should have to choose between escaping abuse and protecting a companion animal who is part of their family.
For more information about Younity’s Pet Advocacy Program, contact Janet Ginest at janetg@younitynj.org.
