RSPCA Victoria has launched a new program to help victim-survivors of domestic and family violence keep their pets safe while fleeing unsafe situations.
The SafePaws program provides practical support including emergency pet packs, access to emergency boarding, and veterinary care for animals that have been harmed or require rehabilitation due to domestic and family violence.
For many victim-survivors, concern for a pet’s safety can be an overwhelming barrier, delaying their decision to leave unsafe situations.
RSPCA Victoria’s senior manager education and community outreach, Dr Lauren Roberts, said the scale of the problem was significant.
“We know people in domestic and family violence situations are faced with impossible decisions, with fear for their pet’s wellbeing a heartbreaking barrier to leaving an unsafe situation.
“RSPCA Victoria’s SafePaws program can help these people by providing safe and secure emergency pet boarding and emergency pet packs primarily through case workers, along with veterinary care for domestic family violence-related pet injuries or rehabilitation for animals recovering during transitions to safety.
“While our dedicated crisis support coordinator works as quickly as possible to provide support to those in need, anyone whose safety is at urgent physical risk should call 000 immediately.
“SafePaws is available to anyone across Victoria who needs to leave a domestic or family violence situation and works alongside welfare professionals and frontline support workers across the state, in addition to providing education and training for industry professionals on the critical link and latest insights between domestic family violence and animal cruelty.”
The program also aims to drive long-term change through education and advocacy, with targeted sessions for frontline and welfare professionals on the links between domestic and family violence and animal cruelty, as well as advocacy for policy reform and pet-inclusive crisis accommodation.
RSPCA Victoria’s head of prevention, Rebecca Cook, said the program’s dedicated crisis support coordinator worked alongside welfare professionals and frontline support workers to find emergency pet boarding and alternative care solutions.
“In some cases, when a pet is left behind, the emotional cost can be profound, with survivors often experiencing guilt, distress and ongoing worry for their animal’s safety,” she said.
“SafePaws is stepping in to relieve that concern and ensure victim-survivors do not have to choose between their own safety and the wellbeing, or even survival, of their beloved pets.”
The SafePaws program is supported by the Petbarn Foundation. For more information visit rspcavic.org/safepaws
First published in the Mornington News – 2 June 2026
