Updated January 2020
In the last few years, researchers and advocates have examined how pet abuse and domestic violence are related, and how important pets are to domestic abuse victims.
Research shows that domestic violence offenders often have a pattern of abuse involving all members of the household – including children and pets.
Image from Animal Welfare Institute.
As a result, domestic violence victims that own pets must try to find shelters/organizations that will take companion animals or leave their pets with their abuser.
Statistics on domestic violence and animal abuse:
- 52 percent of victims in shelters leave their pets with their batterers (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
- Up to 65 percent of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they are concerned about what will happen to their pets when they leave (Carlisle-Frank, Frank and Nielsen, 2004)
- 71 percent of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32 percent reported their children had hurt or killed animals (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
Washington Women’s Shelters that Accept Dogs
To help domestic violence victims find organizations/shelter that take pets, the Animal Welfare Institute put together a list of groups in the US that either provide sheltering services for the companion animals of domestic violence victims, have a relationship with an entity that does, or provide referrals to these facilities.
Many thanks to these shelters/organizations that recognize the importance of pets to victims of domestic violence.
If you know of a domestic violence shelter in Washington that allows dogs and isn’t on this list, please send an email to info@seattledogspot.com.
Here is the list for Washington state.
Image from kingstonprogressive.blogspot.com
SEATTLE/KING COUNTY
API CHAYA
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98114
Number – 206-467-9976
info@apichaya.org
BROADVIEW EMERGENCY SHELTER & TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98103
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98118
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98119
221 W. Gowe Street
Kent, WA 98032-5809
Hotline Numbers – 425-656-7867 or toll-free at 877-465-7234
Number – 253-893-1600
KING COUNTY WOMEN’S PROGRAM
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98104
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98175
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98104
Image from Family Shelter of San Angelo.
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98144
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98102
Contact for address
Seattle, WA 98101
EASTSIDE
LIFEWIRE
Contact for address
Bellevue, WA 98008
TACOMA
CRYSTAL JUDSON FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
Contact for address
Tacoma, WA 98402
Contact for address
Tacoma, WA 98408
Contact for address
Tacoma, WA 98433
HUMANE SOCIETY FOR TACOMA AND PIERCE COUNTY
Contact for address
Tacoma, WA 98409
Contact for address
Tacoma, WA 98402
WHIDBEY ISLAND
CITIZENS AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Contact for address
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Contact for address
Coupeville, WA 98239
EASTERN WASHINGTON
ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE OF THE PALOUSE
Contact for address
Pullman, WA 99163
Contact for address
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Contact for address
Yakima, WA 98907
Contact for address
Kennewick, WA 99336
Contact for address
Newport, WA 99156
Contact for address
Spokane, WA 99202
Contact for address
Stevenson, WA 98648
Contact for address
Omak, WA 98841
Contact for address
Spokane, WA 99201
Contact for address
Bingen, WA 98605
https://www.facebook.com/YWCAYakima/
Contact for address
Yakima, WA 98902
Contact for address
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Contact for address
Wenatchee, WA 98801
OLYMPIA/LONGVIEW/SHELTON
EMERGENCY SUPPORT SHELTER*
Contact for address
Longview, WA 98632
Hotline Number – 360-425-1176
Number – 360-353-5777
Image from Catherine Clark.
SAFEPLACE
Contact for address
Olympia, WA 98501
Contact for address
Shelton, WA 98584
KITSAP COUNTY
YWCA OF KITSAP COUNTY
Contact for address
Bremerton, WA 98337
OLYMPIC PENINSULA
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER OF GRAYS HARBOR
Contact for address
Hoquiam, WA 98550
Contact for address
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Contact for address
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Contact for address
Forks, WA 98331
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES
https://www.facebook.com/dvsaswc
Contact for address
Bellingham, WA 98225
CRISIS SUPPORT NETWORK
Contact for address
Raymond, WA 98577
Contact for address
Vancouver, WA 98684
Contact for address
Vancouver, WA 98663
Image from HSUS.
Comprehensive health care does not in yakima or id not be living in a broke down car on the side of the road with my medical alert service dog, or my soon to be emotional support dog. I went to them when i left and was told sorry cant have the dogs and they are not aggressive in anyway unless ya count licking ya silly aggresive. The ywca is the only one in yakima that does