Bridging the Gap: Establishing Relationships Between Social Services and Animal Welfare
Pets can create a barrier to social services. Whether that is a survivor seeking help for domestic violence, people who are experiencing homelessness needing shelter, or those facing a mental health crisis. Pet owners will often delay seeking help because they have nowhere for their pets to go. When organizations are siloed, we may miss opportunities for interventions that can support those in need and potentially prevent further harm to both people and pets. This presentation will give an overview of the special bond trauma survivors share with their pets and the unique challenges they may face when seeking services, tips for pet advocacy that you can provide to your community, and how BestyBnB helps to bridge the gap between animal welfare and social services.
In this session, you will learn:
The important bond between trauma survivors and their pets and the unique challenges they face when seeking services.
Tips for implementing pet advocacy in your community.
How BestyBnB works to bridge the gap in services between social services and animal welfare.
Who should attend?
Animal welfare managers and staff
Mental health program managers and staff
Domestic violence program managers and staff
Victim advocates
Social service providers working with survivors
Presented by
Zoë Agnew-Svoboda
zagnewsvoboda@bestybnb.com
Director of Engagement and Program Development
Zoë has worked in animal welfare for over a decade. Prior to joining BestyBnB, she spent close to 8 years providing direct service to survivors of domestic violence by managing the pet advocacy program at a domestic violence agency in Kansas City, Missouri. With this program, she gained first-hand knowledge on the positive impact pets play in our lives and how the relationship we share with animals can be life-saving. Zoë regularly provides training on her vast knowledge of the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse, and how to provide pet advocacy services. In her role with BestyBnB, she partners with agencies to implement lifesaving programs for survivors seeking safety with their pets.
*BestyBnB webinars are geared toward professional development and are not intended to be utilized for therapeutic or psycho-educational purposes. If you are a survivor of domestic violence seeking help please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.