Cats Protection offers to help Bedfordshire pet owners trying to flee domestic abuse

Cats Protection is offering to help survivors of domestic abuse during the pandemic.

One of the many reasons people experiencing domestic abuse can find it hard to leave is the thought of leaving their pets behind. Pets are not allowed in temporary accommodation or refuges, leaving owners with an impossible choice.

But the Cats Protection’s Paws Protect service is still offering to help during the outbreak. It places cats into carefully matched foster homes, so owners can leave for safety with the peace of mind that their beloved cats are safe. Cats are looked after by a loving volunteer foster home until they can be reunited with their owner when they are safe again.

Rose Abram, Paws Protect manager, said: “When people experience domestic abuse, they face multiple barriers in leaving their situation. At Paws Protect, we aim to remove one of those barriers by ensuring owners know their cats can be looked after while they are in refuge, to enable them and their family to get to safety.”

“Many of the people we work with at Paws Protect say they wouldn’t leave the abusive relationship until they knew there was a safe place for their cat to go, for fear of what the perpetrator would do to their beloved pet.”

“With domestic abuse rates rising under lockdown measures, we want people to be aware that we are here to help with their cats if they choose, or are able, to leave.”

The service has the support of Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway. She said: “The current picture around domestic abuse makes it clear that some sadly need to leave their homes during this pandemic but can be reluctant to do so for fear of the perpetrator harming a loved family pet.”

Contact Paws Protect (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) on 0345 260 1280 or here