Video: Safe Haven for Pets Help Owners and Animal Recover from Abuse

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — A crucial part of recovering from domestic violence is not only making sure your family is safe, but also your pets.

Some MSU faculty members are helping families of domestic violence, by creating a home away from home for their animals.

Safe Haven for Pets provides a caring environment for animals while their owners recover from violence.

The program recently received a grant from The American Kennel Club that will help them continue to do work that not only helps the pets and their owners, but helps veterinary students as well.

Dr, Sharon Grace and Dr. Christine Bryan at the college of Veterinary Medicine at MSU say women are more likely to stay in Abusive situations if they can’t take their animals.

” Women consider their pets part of the family, and they will not leave, or they will delay departure,” says Dr. Grace.

Their Program Safe Haven for Pets gives women options, so their furry friends aren’t in danger.

“If they do have to flee and they leave their animals behind, it’s often a bad outcome for the animals,” says Dr. Grace.

Resulting in many animals becoming victims as well.

“They have been traumatized, some of them have even been physically abused. We’ve had patients where we’ve actually found scars on them, we have found fractured bones on them. So they defiantly come in with issues and they’re usually a little scared,” says Dr. Christine Bryan.

But with a little T.L.C.

“Sitting in laps, going on walks, they get blankets and toys and treats and new beds, “says Dr. Bryan.

They get back on their feet while their owners work to do the same.

“We see a physical transformation with them, we also see that they’re personality really comes through, ” says Dr.Bryan.

When families and their pets are reunited, it’s one step closer to healing.

The program also gives MSU students a change to get real world experience as they help to rehab the animals and get the chance to return them to their owners.

Safe Haven for Pets survives on donations.

Call the MSU CVM Clinical Services or email Dr. Sharon Grace at grace@cvm.msstate.edu or Dr.Christine Bryan at bryan@cvm.msstate.edu

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