Shining a light for Sarah

Sarah*, a victim of domestic violence, knew she had to leave her abusive living situation, but did not want to leave her two cats behind. “She called seeking shelter for herself and her two cats,” explained Cortney Howe, staff member at Blue Water Safe Horizons shelter in Port Huron, Michigan. “She was a previous client but had not come into the shelter because she could not bring her cats and was afraid to leave them behind with her abuser.” After receiving a RedRover Safe Housing grant, Courtney said, “It was so wonderful to be able to tell Sarah that we could accept her cats now.”

RedRover Safe Housing grants provide financial assistance to family violence shelters to enable them to house pets on site. With the comfort of knowing their pets are closeby, domestic violence victims can begin to recover and heal with their companion animals by their side.

“She was so happy, she broke down in tears,” Cortney added. “Thanks to this grant from RedRover we were able to get Sarah and her cats out of a dangerous situation and into safety.”

With your support, we look forward to helping more shelters build on-site housing for pets so that families like Sarah and her cats can stay safely together.

Applications from domestic violence shelters for 2013 RedRover Safe Housing grants are due on October 30. Learn more at www.RedRover.org/Domestic.

*Name changed to protect identity.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and you can support RedRover’s efforts to help families and pets affected by domestic violence by purchasing your very own STOP THE VIOLENCE t-shirt.

THIS WEEK ONLY, for every purchase of a STOP THE VIOLENCE t-shirt, $8 will go to RedRover to help domestic violence victims escape their abusers without leaving their pets behind. Click here to purchase your t-shirt.