RSPCA Welcomes Government Support for Safe Beds Program

The RSPCA welcomes the announcement by Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Jo Palmer, that the state government will provide funding of a further $50,000 to support the operations of our Safe Beds Program.

Today’s environment is a very challenging one with people under all sorts of pressures every day. Companion animals are often the only real link people have with the outside world; and we know that keeping people together with their pets in times of stress is one of the most important ways of managing difficult situations.

That’s what our Safe Beds program is all about.

Through this program, we assist people escaping abusive relationships by caring for their companion animals, whilst they recover and re-establish their lives and their homes. We have also cared for the pets of people experiencing temporary homelessness due to the tightening housing situation and the difficulty of finding rental properties which will accept their furry friends. In some cases, we have also looked after the pets of people needing emergency in-patient care, where they have no access to family or other community support.

Over the past year, we have taken care of 167 companion animals of people in temporary distress – cats, dogs, even budgies, guinea pigs and rabbits. The average length of stay in our program for these animals is 40 days. That only shows part of the story, though. In emergencies, including evacuations, some animals are with us for only a day or so; where people are homeless, or suffering long-term illness, their pets may be with us for many months.

As a state-wide organisation, with a respected reputation and a proven commitment to providing emergency care for animals, we are well positioned to play our part in supporting the government deliver their victim-survivor program.

We are excited to be continuing our partnership with the state government to provide this essential service for people fleeing domestic violence or facing other at-risk situations – and for their best friends, furry or feathered.