When you need to relocate because of domestic abuse there can be so many losses – from your sense of home to your personal possessions, from your career progression to your comfy sofa, from your favourite corner shop to your children’s friends.
You take what you can with you.
Maybe you can store some furniture, books, toys until you get somewhere settled.
It all depends on how you have to leave – whether the abuser will notice any plans you make, anything you try to do to prepare. And it all depends on what kind of help and support you get – practical, financial, emotional…
You do what you can to keep your family safe and away from the abuser.
Pets are part of your family, and often a big concern for women and children – animals pick up on the threat and abuse, and may be at risk from the abuser: either from living in the situation, or deliberately targeted.
You don’t want to leave them behind when you go.
Maud left her cat with friends when she escaped abuse, but felt so anxious about him
“So I’ve got that stress – and he’s my daughter’s baby; so I’m worried. I actually dreamt about him last night – he’d got one eye and lost a leg; like he’s been attacked – honestly, it’s so.”
So
it’s important to know that there are projects[1]
that can foster your cats and dogs whilst you are escaping the violence – keep them
safe and cared for until you can have them back. It means one less loss for you – and keeps
your pets as part of the family as you start again.
[1] https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/paws-protect
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/hope-project-freedom-project/freedom-project