I hope many other places follow suit soon. When I worked in child protection, I regularly dealt with women in abusive relationships. I have one burned into my head forever. She had a bull mastiff. Her husband had injured her, threatened the kids and the dog. I had to apprehend the kids. I gave her the option of letting me take her to a shelter and her kids could stay with her. She wouldn't leave that dog. I took her kids. I understood it to some degree. The judge was not so understanding. Took her a long time to get her kids back after she found a safe place for her and the dog.

The shelter I volunteer with has a room set aside for pets belonging to women in the local shelter. We've fostered a few dogs for women in the shelter. I've never posted their pictures as they are in danger. The women are expected to visit their pets and maintain contact. They can stay in the foster home or the shelter for as long as it take for her to get back on her feet. It's a heavily used program. That room is rarely empty!