Help People and Animal Escape Domestic Abuse with Refuge4Pets

As we welcome in the new year, we welcome in the four new charities taking part in the My Favourite Voucher Codes January 2023 charity poll! Refuge4Pets are one of the incredible charities taking part and competing to win 20% of our profits for the month. With Refuge4Pets, you can vote to help people and animals to flee from domestic violence, as this amazing charity foster the pets of domestic abuse victims and survivors so they can safely leave with their much-loved animal companions. Find out more about the work that Refuge4Pets do and see if they get your vote this January!

Who Are Refuge4Pets? 

Refuge4Pets is a small charity based in Cornwall providing an animal fostering service across Devon and Cornwall for people fleeing domestic abuse. This means the person can flee to safety without having to leave their much-loved pets behind. Most emergency housing and refuges do not accommodate animals, which makes the service so important.   

It's probably something you may not have considered, but animals can also be victims of domestic abuse.  Animals are often abused by perpetrators to coerce, control, and entrap families in the abusive relationship. Recent research which captured the experiences of 107 victim-survivors of domestic abuse found that animals were abused by the perpetrator in 94 of these households. Animals were abused in similar ways to people in the household. They were physically abused, threatened, intimidated, denied their basic needs, and intentionally murdered in 13 of the 94 households.  

If you are a victim-survivor of domestic abuse with no money, your children to keep safe and with animals, it is almost impossible to escape. By providing foster homes for their animals, we empower people to access the vital safety and support they need by removing this significant barrier which prevents many people from leaving an abusive relationship.   

Since Refuge4Pets was founded in 2017 by Dr Mary Wakeham, the charity has supported over 350 families to escape domestic abuse by fostering 500 animals. 

Animals typically stay in foster care for 6-9 months and Refuge4Pets cover the cost of everything animals need while in foster care. This includes food, bedding, toys and treats and our biggest cost, veterinary treatment and medication.  

Refuge4Pets Team - Image Credit Refuge4Pets

Wendy and Charlie's Story  

Wendy and her dog Charlie were referred to our service by Devon and Cornwall Police. They were at serious risk from the perpetrator, Wendy's ex-partner, who had controlled all aspects of her life for many years as well as psychologically, emotionally, physically, and sexually abusing her.   

When we met Wendy her ex-partner had violently assaulted her, smashed up her home and threatened to harm Charlie. We met Wendy and Charlie in a supermarket car park, the abuse that they had endured was clearly visible and we all shared tears and hugs (pre lockdown). Charlie is Wendy's best friend, he offers unconditional love, companionship, and a sense of purpose to his Mum. Charlie is his Mum's world. Tami, who is a project worker with Refuge4Pets took Charlie to his foster home where he was greeted with open arms and big hearts.   

During Charlie's time in foster care he received the vet treatment that he needed and enjoyed lots of lovely walks and time with his foster family. Wendy was determined to find somewhere safe for her and Charlie to live and she managed to find private rented accommodation for them, which is often hard with animals. When the time came for Charlie's foster family to say goodbye, they were sad but took great comfort knowing they had helped Charlie and his Mum at such a difficult point in their lives.   

When Tami met Wendy with Charlie there were more tears, but this time tears of happiness. Charlie was so excited to see Mum and Wendy was just so grateful to the wonderful foster carers who provided such amazing care to Charlie.   

Wendy wrote: 'I dread to think where I would be if Charlie had not been fostered. I was in such a low place and didn’t see a way out. I could not handle another beating. Charlie was the only reason I could not leave, but knowing how safe and looked after he was, it motivated me to leave him and sort my life out. We are now so happy and safe forever'. 

Find Out More about Refuge4Pets Campaigns

Refuge4Pets is running a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to cover veterinary costs for the animals in its care. To donate and to find out more visit: 

Crisis Appeal: Help Us Care For Animals In Need - a Charities crowdfunding project in Liskeard by Refuge4Pets (crowdfunder.co.uk)

More about Refuge4Pets can be found on their website or by following the charity on social media: Refuge4Pets Facebook, Instagram  and  Twitter 

 How Can I Get in Touch with Refuge4Pets?

If you want to get in touch to use their services, find out more about the charity or find out ways you can support them, you can give them a call on 0300 4000 121 or email them at info@refuge4pets.org.uk. There is also the national 24-hour domestic violence hotline which you can contact if you are experiencing domestic violence or are concerned about someone else 0808 2000 247.

If Refuge4Pets have got your vote, then make sure you visit our Homepage and vote for them in the poll. The poll will appear on the right hand side of the page (or at the bottom of the page on mobile). Don't forget to share the poll with friends and family, and help this incredible charity to foster more animals in need whilst helping domestic abuse survivors to be free from harm.