Who We Are:
We are a coalition of Berkshire County citizens and professionals who come together to identify the connections between animal cruelty and human violence. As professionals in the fields of education, animal protection, human services, law enforcement, and veterinary medicine we work to find ways to make Berkshire County a safer, healthier, and more humane place for people and animals.
HAVEN's Mission:
To make Berkshire County a safe and humane place for animals and people through the development of a broad-based coalition concerned about the links between human violence and animal cruelty, to inform and educate the public, and to foster ongoing communication and collaboration between professionals to address violence in all its forms.
FOSTER HOMES NEEDED
HAVEN supported SafePet foster program is desperate for temporary foster homes for pets of families seeking shelter from domestic violence. These are family pets not allowed in the safe shelters where the families are living, working to rebuild their lives.
Children in domestic violence situations are often even more attached to the unconditionally loving family pet. SafePet provides the care for the pet until the family is reunited in a safer environment.
For more information, please see SafePet Program links below. |
Group saves pets of abused women
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Letter To the Editor - Berkshire Eagle
It was with great interest that I read the Oct. 29 commentary on Noah's Ark, a program in the Boston area that arranges shelter for the pets of women who are fleeing abusive situations. In his piece Brian McGrory wonders why no one had thought of such a program before. Actually Mr. McGrory, many people had thought of it before. As a matter of fact, Berkshire Humane Society and the Elizabeth Freeman Center established a similar program several years ago, right here in Berkshire County. Berkshire County also boasts HAVEN, the Human/ Animal Violence Education Network, a coalition of professionals from the fields of human services, animal protection, law enforcement, veterinary medicine and education. HAVEN is dedicated to raising awareness about the connection between animal cruelty and violence and supports the SafePet program.
The SafePet program, which exists largely due to the dedication of former Elizabeth Freeman Center employee, Francine Kelleher, was developed to meet the needs of the pet owner who is escaping from an abusive mate.
People who seek shelter or other services with the Elizabeth Freeman Center, are routinely asked about pet ownership. If the client requires shelter for a pet, Berkshire Humane Society is contacted. Berkshire Humane Society has established a network of trained foster placements and is able to safely shelter the pet in an undisclosed location, usually far from the original home. It is by supporting and helping to facilitate programs such as this that HAVEN is working to make Berkshire County a safer, healthier, and more humane place for people and animals.
If you need shelter for yourself and or your pets please call the Elizabeth Freeman Center hotline at (866) 401-2425. For more info about HAVEN, call (413) 447-7878, Ext. 40, or visit www.havennetwork.org
Lorna Grande
SafePet Program Info:
If you are interested in helping with this innovative program, please visit the Berkshire Humane Society.
SafePet Program Brochure 
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If you have an emergency, dial 911.
To report domestic violence, animal abuse or child abuse use the resources provided here. |
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