Ahimsa House, Inc.

Ahimsa House is dedicated to addressing the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty. We offer services and assistance to victims of domestic violence with pets in Georgia and work to raise awareness of this connection in communities throughout the state.

Ahimsa House services are available anywhere in Georgia and all services are completely free of charge.Our Direct Services Program offers:

• A 24-hour statewide crisis line offering crisis intervention and guidance to victims and their representatives concerned about pets in domestic violence
• Emergency shelter for animals of any kind in confidential foster homes or boarding facilities while their owners reach safety from domestic violence
• Veterinary care for pets with injuries and other health conditions due to the abuse, as well as preventive veterinary care and spay/neuter for animals staying in our emergency shelter program
• Forensic veterinary examinations to document abuse and assist in prosecuting abusers
• Assistance in transporting pets to accompany their owners to safety (both within GA and across the country)
• Pet food, pet supplies, payment of pet deposits in transitional housing, and other assistance victims may need in order to move forward with their lives together with their pets after reaching safety
• Folding crates and other pet supplies for domestic violence shelters, including shelters that have their own on-site housing for pets
• Assistance in including pets in safety planning
• Legal advocacy to assist victims in listing their pets on temporary protective orders and in establishing proof of ownership of their pets

Our Outreach Services Program includes:

• Training and cross-training for a wide range of human services and animal protection agencies on the links between animal abuse and domestic violence
• Direct outreach to the public to raise awareness about this issue, including speaking at meetings of civic organizations, setting up information booths at community festivals and workplace health fairs, and placing information brochures and posters in veterinary clinics and other strategic locations across the state
• Consultation to prosecutors on cases involving co-occurring animal cruelty and domestic violence, including expert witness services
• A directory of programs of this type elsewhere
• Participating in interdisciplinary conferences and meetings, such as Domestic Violence Task Forces, to keep the issue of animal abuse in domestic violence “at the table.”

To date (November 2014), Ahimsa House has provided over 42,000 nights of safe, confidential shelter for pets in need. In 2013, we took in 32% more animals than in 2012, and requests for our services went up by 26%. Over the past three years, calls to our 24-hour crisis line have more than tripled.