Non-profit organization saves the lives of victims of violence - offers shelter for their pets

Every year, the non-profit organization VOOV (Veterinary Concern for Abused Victims), in collaboration with the police and women's shelters, offers emergency shelters for pets so that their abused owners have the opportunity to leave their relationship.

Part of the organization is located in Uppsala, where the organization was started in 2009.

- It is not often talked about this problem of leaving pets with the person who has committed violence, and that these can also be used as a means of pressure to get the victims of violence to stay in the relationship, says Camilla, volunteer coordinator at VOOV Uppsala.

The organization strives to accept all types of animals through its emergency shelters, but the most common are cats and dogs.

Great work on privacy

To make the work as safe as possible, there are safety regulations that the police have drawn up in collaboration with VOOV.

It describes, among other things, how contact between VOOV and the victim of violence always takes place through contact persons, and that the operation is divided into two parts: the placement operation and the board.

There, Camilla belongs to the latter.

- The only reason why I can appear in the media is because I am part of the board, and therefore have no information whatsoever about our shelters or placed animals, so it is a very important safety net, she says.

In addition, according to VOOV, everyone who wants to become part of the organization is checked, among other things, in the charge register, at the same time that a promise of silence is signed.

- We demand that kind of secrecy around everyone who wants to get involved, says Camilla, volunteer coordinator at VOOV Uppsala.

The goal: to reunite animals and owners

Camilla emphasizes that VOOV is not a rehoming operation, but that the long-term goal is always to reunite the owner with their pet.

- We are only there as support to enable a better life for those subjected to violence, she says.

In the clip: Hear more about how VOOV helps victims of violence by offering shelters for their pets.