Audrey and Bea’s Survivor Story
September 3rd, 2024
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager
As deep as our love for our animals can go is how deep it can hurt when something happens to them. Abusers know this, and that’s why a survivor’s pet is often a target for intimidation or physical harm or a tool for emotional manipulation and control. It’s the unfortunate and painful reality of many survivors who find hope and a better future with the RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant program.
Bea* was the last piece of family that Audrey* had left. She had raised the beautiful black-coated shepherd since she was just seven weeks old, a tiny puppy needing a mother to love her. Audrey did the job beautifully; she loved Bea unconditionally and did everything she could to protect her for 24 hours a day, every day, for 18 months. Their bond was incredibly close, and Bea was just as much Audrey’s emotional support animal as Audrey was Bea’s emotional support person. But where others saw something precious, the abuser in Audrey’s life saw a threat.
He would scare Bea and hurt her until the otherwise proud pup urinated on the floor. Audrey felt helpless to protect her girl – much less herself – finding the best solution to be keeping Bea on a leash in her room with the door locked. It wasn’t fair, and it couldn’t be forever. But it worked for them until the abuse escalated and he began threatening to kill Bea.
She was ready to leave. When Audrey got to the domestic violence shelter with Bea, she was devastated that they wouldn’t be able to stay together. Her advocate helped her apply for a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant, which fortunately meant Bea would be boarded at a nearby animal shelter. While her heart was broken, she knew this was their best chance to be safe now and reunited later. She wanted to be with Bea always but not if it meant becoming homeless, and she wasn’t going back.
Audrey visited Bea daily but wouldn’t eat or engage in her programming in the hours between. How was she supposed to heal when it felt like she was grieving? Still, after 60 long days, Audrey had found a safe place for them to live together. Finally, they were reunited. She always cried after visiting Bea in the shelter, but for once, they were happy tears. They had endured so much together in Bea’s short life and survived. Now it was time to thrive.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy
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