Pet Safety Plan Survivor Advocacy Center

Pet Safety Plan

If you can leave with your pet, try to leave with the pet’s:

  • Medication
  • Collar with identification
  • Vaccination and medical records
  • Carrier for transportation
  • Proof of ownership
  • Feeding schedule, food, and bowls
  • List of habits and behaviors
  • Grooming supplies and toys

If you cannot leave with your pet, you may wish to request a police escort to reclaim your pet, or work with the Survivor Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes to safely reclaim your pet.

Do not go to your home alone without an escort or without notifying the police. If you live in another county in New York, or another state, contact your local domestic violence program if you have a concern regarding leaving your pets behind when you leave the domestic violence situation. Many of the domestic violence programs work with animal shelters and the humane society in their community.

While pets are not allowed in our domestic violence shelter, the SACFL works with Wayne County Humane Society to house small pets during the transition from an emergency shelter to your new home. The Humane Society of Greater Rochester at Lollypop Farm also provides pet boarding for survivors. We are grateful to both agencies for this collaboration.

Pets Covered in Orders of Protection (S.7691 Padavan / A.10767-A Rosenthal) (New York State)
Allows protection of companion animals to be added to an order of protection issued in a criminal court or Family Court. Requires the respondent to refrain from intentionally injuring or killing any companion animal the respondent knows to be owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the petitioner or a minor child living in the household. Companion animals/pets are defined as a dog, cat or any other domesticated animal that lives in or near the household, but does not include farm animals. SIGNED: Chapter 253EFFECTIVE: July 26, 2006

Order of Protection/Pets (A.8855-A Rosenthal / S.4541-A Kruger) (New York State) Amends the 2006 law that authorized the inclusion of companion animals or pets in criminal or family court orders of protection to now include orders issued in Supreme Court matrimonial cases. In addition, the new law changes the language referring to “petitioner” to read “the person protected by the order” in orders of protection issued under sections of the Family Court Act where the government or prosecutor, rather than the victim, petitions the court (i.e., child support, juvenile delinquency, etc.).EFFECTIVE: July 6, 2008 Chapter 532

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