He is my life: Bridget’s DV Survivor Story
July 1st, 2024
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager
Beau* the pittie was enjoying a bath at the groomer’s the day his mom, Bridget*, survived an attempt by her spouse to drown her in the shower. Had he been home, he would have tried to protect her – but he could have been targeted with violence just to hurt Bridget, too. The abuser had access to weapons and threatened to kill Beau several times, knowing how deeply the two were bonded:
“Beau is everything to me. He is my registered support animal for seizures and PTSD. He was rescued off the euthanasia list at a local shelter and goes everywhere with me. He is my life and is so important to me. Beau knows when I start to have a seizure and lays on top of me or starts licking my face even if we are driving in the car. He is family and means as much to me as my grown children.”
Bridget recovered in the hospital and later entered a domestic violence shelter, while Beau was taken to a safe location unknown to her abuser. She worked with her advocate at the shelter to apply for a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant to cover the cost of boarding Beau until they could get back on their feet together. Beau did well at the boarding facility and was delighted the day Bridget came to pick him up. He was ready to start a new, peaceful chapter together with Bridget, while her heart was filled with gratitude for their second chance:
“Having RedRover cover the cost of boarding was lifesaving. I cannot even begin to explain how much it meant to me to have the support that I could maintain his safety and mine. It was my lifeline when I needed it the most. Beau was safe and well cared for and I didn’t have to worry. This couldn’t have been possible without RedRover. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our efforts to give all survivors of domestic violence – two-legged and four-legged alike – hope for a better tomorrow!
*Names have been changed to protect privacy
P.S. The RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant program is still in dire need as more survivors depend on us and the cost of an individual grant continues to rise. If you want to protect more families like Bridget and Beau, please consider making a Safe Escape possible for every survivor with a generous gift.
