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.
Here is the list of these places in Washington state. Many thanks to these shelters/organizations that recognize the important of pets to victims of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County
Bellingham, WA
Hotline Number: 360-715-1563
Number: 360-671-5714
Womencare Shelter
Bellingham, WA
Hotline Number: 360-734-3438
Number: 360-671-8539
Programs for Peaceful Living
Bingen, WA
Hotline Number: 800-352-5541
Number: 509-493-1533
YWCA of Kitsap County
Bremerton, WA
Hotline Number: 360-479-1980
Number: 360-479-0522
Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation
Number: 360-678-8900 ext. 1100
Coupeville, WA
waifed@whidbey.net

Image from Come Wag Along.
ASPEN
Ellensburg, WA
Hotline Number: 509-925-9384
Number: 509-925-9384
Snohomish County Center for Battered Women
Everett, WA
Hotline Number: 425-252-2873
Number: 425-259-2827
admoffice@snococbw.org
Forks Abuse Program
Forks, WA
Hotline Number: 360-374-2273
Number: 360-374-6411
salsal@centurytel.net
Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor
Hoquiam, WA
Hotline Number: 888-533-6156
Number: 360-538-0733
Emergency Support Shelter
Kelso, WA
Hotline Number: 360-636-8471
Number: 360-425-1176
sherriet@cascadenetworks.net
Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties
Kennewick, WA
Hotline Number: 509-582-9841
Number: 800-648-1277
kelly.a@dvsbf.org
Domestic Abuse Women’s Network
Kent, WA
Hotline Number: 425-656-7867
Number: 253-893-1600
Emergency Support Shelter
Longview, WA
Hotline Number: 360-425-1176
Number: 360-425-1176
Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
Mount Vernon, WA
Hotline Number: 800-726-6010
Number: 360-336-9591

Image from Family Shelter of San Angelo.
Family Crisis Network
Newport, WA
Hotline Number: 509-447-5483
Number: 509-447-2274
Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Oak Harbor, WA
Hotline Number: 360-675-2232
Number: 360-675-2232
cada@whidbey.net
SafePlace
Olympia, WA
Hotline Number: 360-754-6300
Number: 360-786-8754
safeplace@safeplaceolympia.org
The Support Center
Omak, WA
Hotline Number: 509-826-3221
Number: 509-826-3221
information@thesupportcenter.org
Healthy Families of Clallam County
Port Angeles, WA
Hotline Number: 360-452-4357
Number: 360-452-3811
healfam@olypen.com
Dove House
Port Townsend, WA
Hotline Number: 360-385-5291
Number: 360-385-5292
Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse
Pullman, WA
Hotline Number: 509-332-4357
Number: 509-332-0552
home@atvp.org
Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center
Seattle, WA
Number: 206-467-9976
Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing
Seattle, WA
Hotline Number: 206-299-2500
Number: 206-299-2500
Consejo Counseling and Referral Services DV Program
Seattle, WA
Hotline Number: 206-461-4880
Number: 206-461-4880

Image from Naplesshelters.org.
Domestic Violence Program/Seattle Animal Shelter
Seattle, WA
Number: 206-386-4285
ann.graves@seattle.gov
King County Women’s Program
Seattle, WA
Hotline Number: 206-296-5240 or 206-205-5555
Number: 206-296-5240
linda.c.wells@kingcounty.gov
Multi-Communities
Seattle, WA
Number: 206-937-7155
bettieww@hotmail.com
Protection Order Advocacy Program
Seattle, WA
Number: 206-296-9547
Seattle Indian Health Board
Seattle, WA
Hotline Number: 206-324-9360
Number: 206-324-9360
YWCA Downtown Women’s Shelter
Seattle, WA
Hotline Number: 206-461-4882
Number: 206-461-4463
Turning Point Domestic Violence Services
Shelton, WA
Hotline Number: 360-432-1212
Number: 360-426-1216
svidito@questoffice.net
Crisis Support Network
South Bend, WA
Hotline Number: 800-435-7276
Number: 360-875-6702

Image from HSUS.
Intimate Partner Violence Foster Pet Program/Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium
Spokane, WA
Number: 509-487-4778
YWCA Alternatives to Domestic Violence
Spokane, WA
Hotline Number: 509-326-2255
Number: 509-326-1190
Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Stevenson, WA
Hotline Number: 877-427-4210
Number: 509-427-4210
Crystal Judson Family Justice Center
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 253-798-4166
Number: 253-798-4310
familyjusticecenter@co.pierce.wa.us
Domestic Violence Family Services at Lutheran Community Services NW
Tacoma, WA
Number: 253-272-8433
Family Renewal Shelter: Pet Housing Program
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 888-550-3915
Number: 253-475-9010
staff@dvhelp.org
Fort Lewis Victim Advocacy Program
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 253-966-7233
Number: 253-966-0363
Human Rights Department Domestic Violence Project
Tacoma, WA 98402
Number: 253-591-5165
cfortson@cityoftacoma.org
Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 253-383-2733
KathleenO@thehumanesociety.org
YWCA Pierce County
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 253-383-2593
Number: 253-272-4191, ext. 289
MDavidson@ywcapiercecounty.org
YWCA Pierce County Women’s Support Shelter
Tacoma, WA
Hotline Number: 253-383-2593
Number: 253-272-4181
info@ywcapiercecounty.org
YWCA Clark County – SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program
Vancouver, WA
Hotline Number: 360-695-0501
Number: 360-696-0167
dcawthon@ywcaclarkcounty.org
YWCA of Wenatchee Valley
Wenatchee, WA
Number: 509-662-3531
Central WA Comprehensive Mental Health/Sexual Assault
Yakima, WA
Hotline Number: 509-452-9675
Number: 509-576-4326
YWCA Family Crisis Program
Yakima, WA
Hotline Number: 509-248-7796
Number: 509-248-7796
Beck’s Place also provides temporary shelter for pets of domestic violence while their families access services and housing to get them to safety and stability (Snohomish County residents). http://www.becksplace.org or (425) 419-8992
Thanks for the info. Beck’s Place does great work.
That is so awesome that DV shelters are finally doing I wish this was happening 10 yrs ago but that makes me so happy..
I hope you’re ok now.
I came across your site. Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) also allows pets in their domestic shelter.
Thanks, I’ll add them to the list.
Thank you for listing domestic violence shelters that house survivors’ pets; please add New Beginnings to your list. We are located in Seattle and our 24-hour Helpline number is 206-522-9472. Thank you!
Susan Segall, New Beginnings Executive Director
I will, thank you!
Any transitional housing for men in pierce county that’s will accept dogs?
I’m sorry I don’t.