A new province-wide program is offering temporary care for pets belonging to people leaving abusive relationships.

The Safe For Pets Too program provides temporary shelter and veterinary care for pets.

Family violence outreach worker Patty Michaud said research shows there is a link between family violence and animal abuse.

Michaud said it's a common threat made by abusive partners — if the abused spouse leaves, their pet will suffer.

Michaud, who is based in Miramichi, has been working with a committee for two years to establish the program.

"If you're an animal lover like I am, and I knew if I left an abusive situation my two little dogs were going to be hurt or killed or neglected or abused — I wouldn't leave them. And a lot of women who love their animals feel the same way," said Michaud.

She said the idea for the program started with some research by Dr. Deborah Doherty, executive director of the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, and a few people who wanted to make a difference.

Doherty's 2008 report Family Violence, Firearms, and Animal Abuse recommended more educational awareness for animal protection officers, transition workers, and police of the relationship between pet abuse and domestic violence. The report said better understanding was needed that animal abuse can be an indicator that people are being abused too.

"Women had said in this research that they were delaying leaving or they didn't leave because they had pets, and we had a veterinarian, Krista Foreman, who was in the audience and she just stood up and said we have gotta do something about this, so we formed a committee from that," explained Michaud.

The program is accessible through transition houses, outreach workers and police.