Domestic abuse charity handed police funding

Refuge4Pets was formed in 2017 and has since helped 382 families

Devon and Cornwall Police has given funding to a charity that supports people and their pets who have been victims of domestic abuse.

Refuge4Pets received £2,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Act fund (POCA) which seized cash and assets from criminals before handing them over to community groups.

The charity provided specialist animal fostering across Devon and Cornwall to victim-survivors of domestic abuse so they and their much-loved pets, could leave harm.

CEO of Refuge4Pets, Mary Wakeham said: “We provide training and resources to a range of professionals to help them to understand the link between domestic abuse and animal abuse and how to promote the safety of all victim-survivors."

Since it started in 2017, the charity claimed to have supported 382 families, arranged for 656 animals to be fostered, reunited 479 animals with their families and given professional training to almost 7,500 people.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police explained that often individuals and families escaping domestic abuse are unable to take their animals with them as most temporary accommodation does not allow pets.

They said: "In many cases, this will stop people from leaving their abusive partner and some perpetrators will use defenceless animals to gain control over a victim."