Jessica Katz is the Founder and Executive Director of The Safe Haven Network. Danielle Parisi Ruffatto is the Director of Emergency Services at Ascend Justice. Jessica and Danielle co-authored this article.

Survivors of domestic violence face unique challenges, whether they stay with their abusers or plan to leave.  The unlimited love of a pet can help you handle the stress of your situation. But your desire to keep them safe can pose even more challenges.It may seem like you have to choose between your safety or your pet’s. In this post, we will cover some ways you can keep both you and your pet safe from an abuser.

Plan ahead for pet safety

Because your pets are members of the family, it is important that you include them in your safety plan.  If you plan to stay, you should keep emergency supplies for your pets in one place, including food and medicines.  You should also gather documents to prove ownership of your pets, if the abuser tries to claim that the pets are theirs. 

These documents could be:

• The adoption contract,
• Registration papers,
• Vet bills,
• Receipts from buying pet supplies, or
• Photos.

Make sure you have quick access to the phone numbers and addresses of the local emergency veterinarians.

If you are preparing to leave your abuser, your “go bag” should include essential items for your pets - food, medicines, ownership documents, health records, leash, etc.  It’s worth including their favorite toys or bedding if you can, as something familiar may help keep your pets a little calmer in the process.  

If your pets are microchipped, you will need to change the address and information on the chip to ensure that the chip doesn’t send the pets back to the abuser if you and your pets get separated.  You also will need to change the access to the microchip information.If the abuser can log in and see the changed address, or change it himself, all your hard work will be for nothing.  You should contact the microchip company directly to inform them of the situation. Try to get an alert on your account or something similar, in case the abuser tries to troubleshoot his way into the account to access your information. 

If you are going somewhere where your pet can’t stay with you, you can still get your pet out of the house.  SafePlaceforPets.org will help you find the closest emergency boarding options for your pet.  Illinois only has one pet-friendly domestic violence shelter (Quanada in Quincy, IL).Still, there are 21 safe haven options across the state.  

You can also apply to RedRover for a Safe Escape grant. This grant would fund a private boarding facility while you escape your abuser and settle into a new home.  

If you are working with an advocate in Chicago, they can fill out an application for a safe haven referral through The Safe Haven Network. This referral will connect you to safe haven options in and around Chicago.

Keeping your pet safe

You will still need to stay alert and consider the safety of yourself and your pets in every decision you make.  Your pets should never be outside alone and should be kept inside as much as possible. When they need to be walked or otherwise taken out, you should take them with a partner - you should not be alone, either.  

Make sure you are picking safe times and places to take your pets outside. Change your route to avoid allowing the abuser or anyone else to pick up on your routine.  You should change your veterinarian, doggy daycare, groomer, etc. since the abuser will be familiar with the usual service providers.  

Pets can be included in an Order or Protection

If a family or household member has abused you, you can ask for an Order of Protection that includes your pet. You must first file a Petition for Order of Protection, and then go to court. A judge will decide to grant an Order of Protection and what the Order says.

The judge can grant you an Emergency Order of Protection for 14-21 days immediately.In addition, a Plenary Order of Protection for up to 2 years after the abuser is served. Once the abuser knows about the Order, they can be arrested and charged with a crime if they do not follow it.

An Order of Protection can give you “exclusive care, custody, and control” of any animals that are owned or kept by you, the abuser, or a child residing in either of your homes. The Order can say that the abuser has to physically stay away from the animal. It can also prevent them from taking, selling, or harming the animal. This means that, through an Order of Protection, you can: 

• Stop your abuser from harming your pet, 
• Keep them away from your pet, and 
• Prevent them from taking your pet away from you. 

An Order can also say that your abuser has to pay you for losses or expenses relating to the abuse. These losses include property damage. You can ask the judge to order the abuser to pay for any vet bills or boarding expenses that resulted from the abusive behavior. 

It is important to remember that an Order of Protection is only one tool that can help increase your safety. It is up to you to enforce your order by calling the police. And to take other steps to make sure you, your family, and your pets stay safe.

This information is posted as a public service by Illinois Legal Aid Online and its partners. Its purpose is to inform people of their legal rights and obligations. Talk to a lawyer if you have questions about how this information applies to you.