LiveSafe Resources, the Marietta-based organization that provides safety and healing to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault, has a new amenity coming to its shelter.
In addition to its 40-bed emergency shelter, survivors will soon be able to bring their pets thanks to four new pet shelter units being built.
LiveSafe CEO Lisa Mello said the new sanctuary is part of a growing trend seen at shelters across the country to help those who cannot leave a violent situation due to the safety of their animals.
“(Survivors) may not leave because their pets have been harmed before or have been used as a threat to harm their pets if they try to leave,” Mello said. “It’s been a big push to do these pet shelters ... there’s been a big push nationwide.”
According Gabbie Vilanova, senior program manager of Greater Good Charities, a project partner, about 19% of domestic violence shelters in the U.S. are equipped to accommodate pets. Because of this, Mello said it forces victims to stay in dangerous environments longer, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Mello said about 47% of domestic violence victims delay leaving abusive situations due to fear of abandoning their pets. Of those survivors, about 78% had faced threats from their abusers to harm or even kill their pets as a form of control, Mello said.
Thanks to a partnership with various pet-saving organizations and nonprofits including Greater Good Charities, the Red Rover Foundation and the Purina Purple Leash Project, LiveSafe’s four new pet shelters will accommodate survivors’ furry pets including dogs, cats and rabbits at no charge.
The pet shelters are expected to be opened and available for survivors beginning some time in February.
The $230,000 project was funded through grants from the three partner organizations, as well as through donations to LiveSafe. Each pet unit will be equipped with heating and cooling, toys, cat shelves, couches and a TV so pet owners can stay comfortable and entertained while checking in on their animals.
The units will also have a doggy door that leads to a small outdoor play area for pets to get outside.
Pet owners will stay in the campus’ main facility while their animals live in one of the four available units. Owners will be in charge of feeding, walking and checking in on their pets throughout the day.
“We think pets are family and it’s really important that when survivors are seeking safety that they can bring their pet with them,” Vilanova said. “Knowing that we are taking one of those barriers away and allowing people to bring their pet with them ... is really important to us.”
Mello said installing these new pet units will be a game-changer since it will allow families and their children to spend time with their pets in a safe, secure area. The end goal, she said, is to remove as many barriers as possible for those who are seeking safety from an abusive situation.
“Whatever we can do to ... encourage someone to make that choice to leave a dangerous situation is what we want to do,” Mello said. “The ability for us to offer this program allows us to bring more people into safety.”
Survivors of domestic violence who are seeking help can call LiveSafe Resources’ 24-hour crisis line at 770-427-3390.
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