The Pet Friendly Shelter at La Maison Rosewood

IF YOU AND YOUR PET ARE IN CRISIS, CALL US AT 705 526 4211.

HTH began in 1984 as an emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing violence in rural Midland, Ontario, and today has 40 years of expertise dedicated to meeting the unique needs of survivors of gender-based violence through five distinct programs across Simcoe County. In North Simcoe these services are primarily offered through La Maison Rosewood, which includes supports such as emergency shelter, 24/7 crisis lines, short and long-term counselling, group programming, legal advocacy and housing support including transitional housing for women who have been trafficked.

At HTH, we are always working to reduce barriers so that women can flee violence and access services in our shelter. Responding to the needs of women we serve and a rising awareness of gaps in service delivery related to the relationship between intimate partner violence and pet abuse, HTH has been working to grow their knowledge and extend their expertise in creating innovative and generative supports for women who have experienced violence. Research has shown the strength of a woman’s bond with her pet might prevent her from leaving abusive situations and it is common for women to take on the role of keeping pet companions safe when they do leave. Although shelters across Canada have started to explore options for keeping women and their pets safe together, there is often limited capacity for shelters to do so.

HELP US SUPPORT WOMEN AND THEIR PETS

The oppression of women and animals are intertwined in patriarchal systems, and nowhere is this interconnection more apparent than in the co-occurrence of animal abuse and women abuse. Therefore, supporting the safety of pets of survivors of IPV is an important social justice endeavor, not just for the protection of the animals but also for the women who care for them.1

The pet shelter at La Maison Rosewood was born of the recognition that women should not have to choose between their safety and the safety of their pets. Through the support of a generous donation we converted our shed into a kennel complete with a dog run in the backyard, and have partnered with incredible local organizations to support women and pets in shelter.

As a non-profit organization, the work we do is dependent on the support of community collaborators. Our organization must fundraise and rely on donations to make our work sustainable and to offer the standard of support we promise to our community. That is why investments in HTH are so important – we would never be able to do the work we do without the generosity of those who share and support our vision of a world free of violence for all people. Every donation made to HTH goes toward supporting women in one of our programs – now that will extend to our furry friends, so that women never have to choose between her safety and staying close to her pet.

Monetary Donations

Your donation will go toward supporting women and their pets, providing them comfort, safety, and basic necessities when they come into shelter, and toward building a fund for emergency procedures.

Online: Make a secure donation online at www.huroniatransitionhomes.ca/donate

By phone: Call 705 526 3221 ext. 3228

By mail: Please make your cheque payable to:

Huronia Transition Homes

PO Box 54, Midland, Ontario, L4R 4K6

Become a monthly donor: Visit CanadaHelps to arrange monthly giving.

In Kind Donations

Call for location and additional information about dropping off donations. Please note that we cannot accept all donations offered to our shelter due to storage limitations. If you have any questions about a needed item, please call our administrative line: 705 526 3221 ext. 3228 or e-mail [email protected].

Crates and travel carriers
Bowls and food containers
Wet and dry food
Pee pads and poop bags
Kitty litter
Litter boxes and scoops
Collars and leashes
Chew tools and balls
Grooming products
Blankets and towels

NEW! Donate on Amazon through our wish list for La Maison Rosewood

THIRD PARTY FUNDRAISING

While we receive government funding, the annual allocation determines the nature of the services we can provide, not necessarily what women and their children in our community need. Many services are not funded or are underfunded and consequently, cannot be delivered by our organization. Consider organizing an event to benefit Huronia Transition Homes, donating proceeds or items to our organization.

SOCIAL MEDIA

You can also support HTH by following us on our social media accounts and sharing our posts.

LEARN AND RAISE AWARENESS

ACT (Awareness, Collaboration, Tools) Education (thinkific.com)

REFERENCES

1. Stevenson, R., Fitzgerald, A., & Barrett, B. J. (2018). Keeping pets safe in the context of intimate partner violence: Insights from domestic violence shelter staff in Canada. Affilia, 33(2), 236-252.