SAAV
ACTION
Join Our Network of Foster Homes By Becoming A SAAV Foster Parent!
The SAAV Program is made possible only because normal, every day people open their homes to animals affected by domestic abuse by becoming SAAV Foster Parents. We ask our volunteer fosters to make a commitment to sheltering an animal affected by domestic abuse for a period of up to 90 days. The foster period is sometimes shorter than 90 days, but will not be longer than 90 days. Once approved as a SAAV Foster Parent, we will call you if we are in need of a foster home, but you are never obligated to take an animal into your home when we call and ask for help. If, for example, you will be away on a vacation, or the timing is not good for some other reason, you may simply decline to accept a foster animal at that time. It is our goal to have an extensive network of potential foster homes available in Dane County so that we do not burn out our volunteers. We also ask our foster parents to become part of our overall mission to raise community awareness about the link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. To aid in that goal, we ask our fosters to attend a SAAV Program Foster Orientation session before they become foster parents. We hold orientation sessions several times a year, in which volunteers from The SAAV Program, and staff from Domestic Abuse Intervention Services and the Dane County Humane Society, educate our fosters and other volunteers about domestic abuse and how animals are used by batterers in the cycle of abuse. We want our fosters and other volunteers to learn about domestic abuse, so that they can have a greater understanding of the many complexities that domestic abuse victims face when trying to flee abuse.
To become a SAAV Foster Parent, complete the DCHS Foster Application and the SAAV Foster Application on our Home page, and email it to us at info@saavprogram.org, or, by mail, PO Box 5152, Madison, WI 53705.
Join Our Network of Community Educators By Becoming a General Volunteer!
If fostering is not for you, that does not mean that you cannot help us in our mission. We welcome general volunteers interested in helping with our overall organizational mission of raising community awareness regarding the link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. For example, we are in need of volunteers to assist with grant writing and fundraising, and to help staff booths at community events, or to provide us with innovative ideas you may have and want to spearhead to raise community awareness.
To become a general volunteer, complete the General Volunteer Application on our Home page, and email it to us at info@saavprogram.org, or, by mail, PO Box 5152, Madison, WI 53705.
Support Us By Investing In Our Mission Through A Tax Deductible Donation!
The SAAV Program is a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees, only volunteers, to carry out our charitable mission. We are financially supported through grants and donations from the community. Please consider investing in our mission, by making a tax deductible donation to support us.
To donate to The SAAV Program, click the Donate button on our Home page, or mail your donation to PO Box 5152, Madison, WI 53705.
Start A Shelter Program In Your Community!
The SAAV Program is the product of a grassroots effort started by two law students and made possible through the dedication of other folks interested in making a difference in their community. Our program is a community collaboration with our local domestic abuse and animal abuse organizations, who have come together to share in our mission. Unfortunately, our shelter services are limited to Dane County, Wisconsin, because we simply do not have the resources to serve a greater geographic area. To truly serve domestic abuse victims with animals, it is necessary to have shelter programs like The SAAV Program available in all communities, both in Wisconsin and nationally. We are pleased to provide information and advice to any individuals or organizations interested in creating a shelter program or other resources for domestic abuse victims and their animals.
For information about starting a shelter program, or if we can be of assistance in some other way, please email us at info@saavprogram.org.
Helping Domestic Abuse Victims, By Helping Their Animals.
Don't have time or money to donate right now? There is still so much good you can do, by speaking up for domestic abuse victims, supporting legislation aimed at domestic abuse and/or animal cruelty, and generally talking with others about the link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. Family violence is part of a cycle of abuse, where power and control are used to terrorize, punish, and dominate the weak. Violence is violence, whether the victim is human or nonhuman. We ask you to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
To stay updated about news and events regarding domestic abuse and animal cruelty, please consider joining us on Facebook, by clicking on the Facebook icon on our Home Page.