Pet Advocacy 101

The pandemic made pet ownership more prevalent than ever with over 70% of the population owning pets, yet only a small number of social service agencies can meet the need for pet-accessible services. As the impact of covid continues, social service agencies are seeing a vast increase in needs, and animal shelters are full from an exponential increase in owner-surrendered pets. This is where pet advocacy comes in! In this presentation, we will dive into how to create a pet advocacy program to make your agency more accessible to pet owners by focusing on three philosophies: recognizing the important bond between human and animals; seeking resources for those in need that support their goals as pet owners; and creating resources that support the welfare of both pet and pet owner.

In this session, you will learn:

• The impact the pandemic has had on pet ownership and pet retention.

• The barriers pet ownership can create between the owner and social services.

• The three philosophies of pet advocacy and how to implement practices into your work.

Who should attend?

• Social service providers working with pet owners

• Animal welfare program managers and staff

• Mental health program managers and staff

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

Navigating Barriers to Safety & Security: Survivors and Assistance Animals

Survivors fleeing violence comes with many costs, costs which often include leaving behind loved ones, including pets, in unsafe or unfamiliar environments. Up to 50% of survivors will delay leaving a dangerous situation because they fear what will happen to their pets. Yet only 10% of Domestic Violence Shelters have the means to house companion animals. Based on these challenges, through this webinar, domestic and sexual violence advocates will have an opportunity to mitigate these costs by understanding the dynamics between animal abuse, domestic violence, and barriers that placements may have on survivors’ peace of mind. Attendees will become more familiar with how pets impact the trauma survivors face during the healing process as well as how to create plans that follow ADA and HUD guidelines for Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. This training will emphasize the vital role that safe, confidential, and low-cost approaches to pet advocacy programming have on barriers between survivors and safety.

In this session you will learn:

• The connections between animal abuse and domestic violence, as well as the importance of bonds between survivors and their pets.

• How pets positively impact trauma survivors during the healing process.

• How to follow ADA and HUD guidelines for Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals while working with survivors.

Who should attend?

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Animal welfare program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

• Social service providers working with pet owners

• Mental health program managers and staff

*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.

Pets and People: Safe, Together, Connected with BestyBnB

Up to 50% of survivors will delay leaving a dangerous situation because they fear what will happen to their pets. Yet only 10% of Domestic Violence Shelters have the means to house companion animals. This creates a barrier between survivors and safety. While most domestic violence agencies understand the need for pet placement, many are faced with barriers that prevent them from offering this service or are not sure where to start. BestyBnB allows an Agency with no prior pet experience (or pet program in place) the ability to easily locate and manage temporary housing for survivors' pets until they can be reunited. The same platform can also be used for agencies that have a pet program in place but are looking for ways to expand their services. 

In this session, you will learn:

• The connection between animal abuse and domestic violence.

• The important bond survivors of domestic violence share with their pets.

• How pets positively impact trauma survivors’ healing process.

• Steps towards offering pet programming and temporary pet care through BestyBnB. 

Who should attend?

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

• Social service providers working with survivors

• Animal welfare managers and staff

• Mental health program managers and staff

*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.

Building Supports for People with Companion Animals

Hosted by the International Association of Veterinary Social Work in collaboration with Open Door Veterinary Collective

Approximately 66% of United States households report having at least one companion animal, and the majority indicate they consider their animal to be a family member. While veterinary social workers specifically attend to human needs that arise in such relationships, unfortunately recognizing and responding to clients’ companion animal relationships – as both strengths and stressors –- are not yet routine considerations in general social work practice. Moreover, social workers and their clients often face both system and resource barriers in addressing human-animal relationship needs. 

In this session, you will learn:

• 1) Attendees will be able to describe at least one of each type of human benefit associated with non-human animal companionship: biological, psychological, social, and emotional.

  2) Attendees will be able to identify at least three client risks related to omitting consideration of client companion animal concerns in social work practice.

  3) Attendees will be able to state at least two strategies for increasing consideration of clients’ companion animal concerns in micro practice.

  4) Attendees will be able to describe at least two community-level strategies for addressing clients’ companion animal-related resource needs. 

Who should attend?

• Mental health program managers and staff

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

• Social service providers

• Animal welfare managers and staff

*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.

Safety Planning with Survivors of Domestic Violence and Their Pets

Pets are often used as tools to maintain power and control in abusive relationships and can create specific barriers between the survivor and safety. This presentation will give an overview of the special bond survivors share with their pets, the unique challenges survivors face when bringing their pets while leaving an abusive relationship, and safety planning tips for those working with survivors of domestic violence and their pets. This presentation is interactive and will provide activities for those attending to practice their newly learned safety planning skills. After this presentation, those working with survivors of domestic violence will have tools to help keep the survivor and their pet safe while either leaving or staying in the relationship.

In this session, you will learn:

• The important bond survivors of domestic violence share with their pet.

• The unique challenges survivors face when leaving abusive relationships while keeping their pets.

• How to safety plan with a survivor who owns pets.

Who should attend?

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

• Social service providers working with survivors

• Animal welfare managers and staff

*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.

Positive Impact: Pets and Mental Health

Pets play an important role in many people’s lives but for those who struggle with mental health pets’ positive impact can be life-changing, or even lifesaving. Research has shown pet ownership and animal-assisted therapy can improve the quality of life for those working through a variety of mental health challenges. This webinar will highlight the lifesaving support pets can offer to those struggling from the impact of mental health and how the first pet advocacy program was created at a mental health and substance use treatment facility through the partnership between Johnson County Mental Health Center and BestyBnB.

In this session, you will learn:

• The life-saving bond between humans and animals

• The positive impact pets have on mental health through pet ownership and animal-assisted therapy

• How BestyBnB partnered with Johnson County Mental Health Center to create the first pet advocacy program at a mental health and substance use treatment facility

Who should attend?

• Mental health program managers and staff

• Domestic violence program managers and staff

• Victim advocates

• Social service providers

• Animal welfare managers and staff

*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.