Best Friends Animal Society’s Post

No One Should Have to Choose Between Safety and Their Pets 🐾 For individuals experiencing domestic violence, fear of leaving pets behind can prevent them from seeking safety. That’s why, in 2011, the Animal Welfare Institute established the Safe Havens for Pets Project—a national directory of sheltering services that help survivors place their pets out of harm’s way while they find safety themselves. There are now approximately 1,200 facilities listed in the Safe Havens directory. Sheltering services vary by location—some use foster care networks, while others partner with veterinarians or humane societies. Some domestic violence shelters even house pets alongside survivors. This #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth, learn more about the Safe Havens for Pets Project and spread the word: safehavensforpets.org 🏠🐕

Considering adding a furry friend to your family? Adopting a dog from our local animal shelter can be a life-changing decision for both you and the pet. Not only will you provide a loving home for a dog in need, but you'll also contribute to reducing overpopulation and supporting animal welfare efforts. The adoption process is straightforward, involving an application, screening, and a meet-and-greet with potential pets. Prepare your home with essential supplies and create a safe environment for your new companion. #AdoptDontShop #AnimalShelter #PetAdoption

This is such an innovative program and approach to pet registration.

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲.... 👉Act of Compassion: The rescue of a dog that fell into a river showcases the innate kindness of people. Despite the risks involved, individuals came together to save the distressed animal, demonstrating empathy and a willingness to help. 👉Community Support: The incident highlights how kindness can unite a community. Whether it's strangers or neighbors, people rallied together swiftly and efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of the dog, emphasizing the power of collective compassion. 👉Animal Welfare Advocacy: Such acts of rescue underscore the importance of animal welfare and the role of kindness in protecting and caring for animals in distress. It serves as a reminder of our responsibility to be stewards of animal welfare and to act with compassion towards all living beings. 👉Inspiration and Hope: Stories of dog rescues from perilous situations inspire others to perform acts of kindness. They serve as powerful reminders of the positive impact that compassion can have, spreading hope and encouraging individuals to extend a helping hand whenever possible.

Want to know more about the Hays County Pet Resource Center? Read our latest one-pager to learn more about this new animal welfare system designed to help both people and pets. Keeping families together and pets out of shelters! Questions? Contact haysinfo@austinpetsalive.org ✅ Who We Are ✅ What We Do ✅ How We Help

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲.... 👉Act of Compassion: The rescue of a dog that fell into a river showcases the innate kindness of people. Despite the risks involved, individuals came together to save the distressed animal, demonstrating empathy and a willingness to help. 👉Community Support: The incident highlights how kindness can unite a community. Whether it's strangers or neighbors, people rallied together swiftly and efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of the dog, emphasizing the power of collective compassion. 👉Animal Welfare Advocacy: Such acts of rescue underscore the importance of animal welfare and the role of kindness in protecting and caring for animals in distress. It serves as a reminder of our responsibility to be stewards of animal welfare and to act with compassion towards all living beings. 👉Inspiration and Hope: Stories of dog rescues from perilous situations inspire others to perform acts of kindness. They serve as powerful reminders of the positive impact that compassion can have, spreading hope and encouraging individuals to extend a helping hand whenever possible.

Tomorrow 9/10 at 5pm CT - Suicide Prevention for Animal Welfare Staff Discussion In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, I have the honor of being invited to be a co-panelist - alongside the trail blazing and talented social worker at Austin PetsAlive, Alexis Telfair-Garcia, LMSW - to discuss supporting animal shelter staff and animal welfare professionals in the incredibly difficult work they do each day. Animal rescue staff have high chronic stress levels and suicide risk, comparable to those of first responders. They face big picture system stressors - shelters over capacity, lack of animal-inclusive housing and affordable veterinary care driving surrenders- and day-to-day work life stressors; these are interconnected and both can be worsened by how we think and react to them. Here’s a quote often cited by my favorite compassion resilience expert Jessica Dolce, “we can’t stop the waves in the moment, but we can learn to surf”. We must work on what is causing the stormy waves in animal welfare, and in the meantime, use surfing strategies to stay afloat and stay as well as possible. The good news is, work toward improvement is happening on both fronts!!! If you are able, please join Alexis and me on Sept. 10 at 5pm CT to discuss some of the evidence-based “surfing” strategies that can protect us from toxic stress that leads to mental and physical health issues and increased suicide risk. See post below for more info. Huge thanks to Human Animal Support Services for hosting and organizing this incredibly important conversation. Please share with anyone who may be interested! For resources to address “bigger picture” system issues that contribute to toxic stressors in animal shelter work, check out: - Financial Triage for Vet Practices https://lnkd.in/ex5wDrzG - Open Door Veterinary Collective course on reducing financial barriers to providing sustainable full service vet care through payment options (other than Care Credit which many folks don’t qualify for) and Spectrum of Care, ultimately reducing staff moral injury around financial barriers to vet care; see also Open Door’s other training and consultation offerings, VetBilling®, Program for Pet Health Equity, and Access to Veterinary Care Circle - Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative’s resouce site https://lnkd.in/ewcE_ahi - C.A.R.E Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity - grassroots community-specific work toward equity in veterinary and animal welfare - National Animal Care & Control Association Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) initiative- working toward a professional culture of care and support in animal welfare through monthly offerings of MHFA certification trainings https://lnkd.in/eDZabxyx #animalshelter #humanesociety #animalwelfare #animalcontrol #veterinary #sheltermedicine #animalrescue #suicide #suicideprevention #publichealth #socialwork #onehealth #onewelfare #mentalhealth #veterinarysocialwork #moralinjury #compassionfatigue #compassionresilience

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲.... 👉Act of Compassion: The rescue of a dog that fell into a river showcases the innate kindness of people. Despite the risks involved, individuals came together to save the distressed animal, demonstrating empathy and a willingness to help. 👉Community Support: The incident highlights how kindness can unite a community. Whether it's strangers or neighbors, people rallied together swiftly and efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of the dog, emphasizing the power of collective compassion. 👉Animal Welfare Advocacy: Such acts of rescue underscore the importance of animal welfare and the role of kindness in protecting and caring for animals in distress. It serves as a reminder of our responsibility to be stewards of animal welfare and to act with compassion towards all living beings. 👉Inspiration and Hope: Stories of dog rescues from perilous situations inspire others to perform acts of kindness. They serve as powerful reminders of the positive impact that compassion can have, spreading hope and encouraging individuals to extend a helping hand whenever possible.

According to research animal cruelty often co-occurs with other violent crimes, such as domestic violence and assault. I recently wrote to Congressman Jeff Duncan regarding the bipartisan Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act (H.R. 8733). This bill would allow states to track the connection between child and animal abuse in reports to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), promoting cooperation between humane law enforcement and social services. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. While my congressman doesn’t serve on the committee, it’s a great time to let your representatives know where you stand, particularly if one of yours does! Supporting this bill is a great way to protect vulnerable populations. You can take action here with help from the Animal Welfare Institute: https://lnkd.in/dwhvQGrz Let’s advocate for stronger protections for both children and animals! #Advocacy #ChildProtection #AnimalWelfare #TakeAction #PolicyChange #HR8733 #SouthCarolina