What are safe havens for pets?
Safe havens for pets are sheltering services available to help individuals experiencing domestic violence place their companion animals out of harm's way so that they may seek safety for themselves. The Safe Havens for Pets directory was established by AWI in 2011 to help people connect with these resources.
Safe havens operate differently from one community to another. They may involve networks of foster homes or partnerships with local kennels, animal shelters, or veterinarians. Some domestic violence shelters may house survivors and their pets together in the same room, while others provide on-site kennels. Safe havens can be independent nonprofit organizations or formal partnerships between animal welfare and human service agencies. Specific arrangements, including length of stay and visitation options, vary from one safe haven to another. In all cases, the pet’s location should be highly guarded in order to protect the pets and their family members.
Where are they?
Until AWI established the Safe Havens for Pets Project in 2011 (originally as “Safe Havens Mapping Project”), only partial listings of safe havens for pets were available. AWI and the Safe Havens for Pets project addressed this gap with the development of a comprehensive state-by-state directory of sheltering services for pets of domestic violence survivors. The entities included are subject to ongoing refinement, and the latest date of reverification is indicated.
How can my community start one?
The manner in which safe havens for pets develop depends upon the capacity and needs of the local community. For a comprehensive review of how to start a safe haven for pets, please visit Don't Forget the Pets or review these Safe Havens for Pets Guidelines.
Submit a Safe Haven for the directory
Please join our efforts to provide an accurate directory of safe havens for pets. If you are aware of a safe haven for pets program that should be included, or if you spot an error in any of the listings, please contact AWI at [email protected] and provide as much information as possible. Your help is integral in maintaining the Safe Havens for Pets directory.
The Safe Havens for Pets Desert Grant
The Safe Havens for Pets Desert Grant program was launched in 2024 to encourage the development of sheltering services for people and pets affected by domestic violence in areas of the country where such resources are scarce—areas we identified as “safe haven deserts.” See this press release to learn about projects in states that have received funding through this program.
NOW OPEN: Safe Havens Desert Grant in Illinois
The Animal Welfare Institute’s Safe Havens for Pets program is seeking proposals for up to $20,000 in grant funding for a 2-year project that will support domestic violence survivors and their pets in Illinois. Eligibility is limited to organizations based in Illinois, including domestic violence agencies, animal shelters, and related nonprofit programs. Applicants must submit a completed online application with a detailed project description and timeline, proof of nonprofit status, a proposed budget, and identification of at least one community partner. If you or your organization has a compelling project that fits these criteria, we strongly encourage you to apply. You can submit your application for funding using this form. Should you prefer another method of submission, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected], and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Deadline: All application materials must be submitted by October 10, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Additional funding for safe haven pet programs
AWI has identified a number of funding sources for those needing a safe place for companion animals or those interested in developing a safe haven program in their community. There may be other sources of funding not listed here; if you are aware of additional resources, please contact AWI at [email protected] to add them to this list.
Funding opportunities for starting or maintaining a Safe Haven for Pets of domestic violence survivors:
- Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime: Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance
- AKC Humane Fund: Women's Shelters Grant
- Red Rover: Safe Escape Grants
- Red Rover: Safe Housing Grants
- Greater Good Charities: Rescue Rebuild
Funding to assist animal shelters that partner with a domestic violence organization:
Funding sources for domestic violence survivors who have to relinquish their pets:
Funding opportunities for veterinarians: