Safe Escape for Victims & Pets
Safe Escape for victims and pets
Julia sought refuge at a domestic violence shelter after she had become the target of a violent stalker. She had been terrorized for months and was living every waking moment in fear. Her final breaking point happened the day her stalker attempted to break into her home to kill her. Julia immediately packed her bags and headed to the shelter with her 7-month-old Chihuahua in tow. But when she arrived, she learned that pets were not allowed at the shelter.
Unwilling to leave her beloved pup behind, Julia worked with her advocate to find help. Within hours of applying for a RedRover Safe Escape grant, Julia learned that her plea for help had been answered; her dog would be safely boarded at a nearby clinic.
Julia later wrote to RedRover, “I was able to stay safe while being sure that my dog was cared for, which gave me the courage to testify against the man who was stalking me. Without your Safe Escape grant I would not have been able to stay in the shelter during that time and may have been killed by this man. I can’t thank you enough for all of your help. When I am recovered financially I plan to donate to your cause so you can help others like me.”
Julia’s story is one of many of victims seeking safety with their pets that our RedRover Relief case managers hear each year. From 2011 to 2012, applications for Safe Escape increased 126 percent.
You can read our article about helping animals and women in crisis in the latest issue of The Latham Letter, and find ways that you can take action in just a few minutes on our blog.
