Crisis & Emergency Support
A Safe Place While You Get Through a Difficult Time
Hospitalisation, domestic and family violence, temporary homelessness, serious illness, emergency accommodation or a family crisis can suddenly make it impossible to care for a farmed animal, even when you very much want to keep them.
Where we have the capacity to help, Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary may be able to provide temporary safe care until the crisis has passed and your animal can return home.
In these situations, the goal is not surrender or rehoming. It is simply to give your animal somewhere safe to stay while you focus on getting through the situation in front of you.
We do not charge an accommodation or boarding fee for approved crisis placements. We generally ask that feed and veterinary costs are covered during the animal’s stay.
Domestic and Family Violence
Animals can make leaving an unsafe situation much harder.
Someone may delay seeking safety because they are worried about leaving an animal behind or because emergency accommodation cannot take farmed animals.
Where we have suitable space and capacity, Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary may provide temporary care while the owner moves into a safer situation.
These requests will be handled with particular care around privacy and confidentiality.
We will only ask for information that is reasonably necessary to arrange and safely manage the animal's care.
Temporary care may be considered where an owner is dealing with circumstances such as:
Hospitalisation
Domestic and family violence
Temporary homelessness
Serious illness
Emergency accommodation
Family crisis
Every situation is different, and we assess requests individually based on the needs of the animal, how long care may be required and the space and facilities we have available.
When We May Be Able to Help
Keeping Animals and Their People Together
We understand that animals can be an important part of someone's family and support system.
A sudden crisis should not automatically mean having to permanently give up an animal.
Where it is safe and practical to do so, our aim is to provide temporary care so that the animal can return to their owner once their circumstances have stabilised.
For someone facing hospitalisation, housing instability or another serious crisis, knowing their animal is safe can remove one major worry during an already difficult time.
While an animal is staying with us, we aim to provide the same standard of care we would expect for our own sanctuary residents.
Depending on the animal, this may include:
safe and appropriate accommodation
food and clean water
daily care and monitoring
species-appropriate companionship where suitable
shelter and protection from weather
medication where required
veterinary care if needed
appropriate enrichment and exercise
We will also ask for as much information as possible about the animal's normal routine, health, diet, behaviour and any special needs so that their care can remain as consistent as possible.
What Does It Cost?
We do not charge an accommodation or boarding fee for approved crisis placements.
Where possible, we generally ask the owner to cover the animal's feed and veterinary costs during their stay.
This helps Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary provide a safe place without adding a commercial boarding cost at a time when someone may already be dealing with significant financial or personal pressure.
Our aim is simple: to provide a free and safe place for the animal while their owner gets back on their feet.
There is no single timeframe that will suit every situation.
Some people may need help for a short hospital stay. Others may need more time because of housing, illness or family circumstances.
When temporary care begins, we will talk with the owner about the expected timeframe and keep in contact as circumstances change.
Because sanctuary space is limited, longer placements will need to be reviewed periodically to make sure we can continue providing appropriate care for the animal.
The intended outcome of a crisis placement is for the animal to return safely to their owner.
We will work with the owner to arrange their return once the immediate crisis has passed and suitable care can resume.
If circumstances change and returning home is no longer possible, we can discuss what other options may be available. This may include assisted ethical rehoming or another appropriate long-term pathway.
A change in circumstances does not mean an animal will simply be rehomed without discussion with their owner.
How Long Can an Animal Stay?
If you are facing hospitalisation, domestic and family violence, temporary homelessness, serious illness, emergency accommodation or another family crisis and are worried about where your farmed animal can safely stay, please contact us.
The earlier you reach out, the more time we may have to work through the available options.