Bianca’s DV Survivor Story

By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –

Content warning: this article contains descriptions of violence.

Domestic violence often affects more than just one survivor – when it happens, the entire family suffers. Bianca* tried to live through being assaulted and strangled. She could not tolerate her oldest son being assaulted or her two dogs being harmed. The last time the abuser hurt them, Bianca applied for a restraining order and left with her four children and the dogs. Starla* and Skeeter*, a pittie mix and a spaniel, respectively, would not be able to stay together while the family was in a domestic violence shelter. Starla would go with one friend, while Skeeter would go with another. It was the first time the family had ever been apart.

Bianca was grateful, that the dogs were no longer in the home. The abuser had threatened not only to harm them, but to kill them. Yet it wasn’t about the dogs; it was about gaining control and exercising power over Bianca, and she believed he would follow through on his threats. However, while she knew they were safe, she also knew they were unhappy being apart from each other, and especially from the children. She’d hoped that this temporary solution could work for the duration of the family’s time in the shelter, but after just a few days, it was clear they needed another plan. If Starla and Skeeter could not be with their family, they needed to be together.

After explaining the worsening situation to her shelter advocate, they worked together to apply for a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant. With a grant, they could board Starla and Skeeter together for as long as the family was in the domestic violence shelter. Eventually, they would reunite and find a new, safe home together. It was the solution Bianca and her children desperately needed.

Bianca was already relieved to be safe with her children, but when she learned her application for a Safe Escape grant had been approved, she felt an even greater sense of appreciation for the new lives that they would lead together. While the family was apart, the dogs would have each other, and soon they would all be together again in peace. Their new lives would just not have been the same without Starla and Skeeter, or while knowing the dogs had suffered even after being protected from violence.

The family was able to spend as long as they needed in the domestic violence shelter, getting back on their feet and preparing for their transition into their new lives. It made everything easier to know the dogs were safe and together, and reuniting with Starla and Skeeter gave the children something to look forward to as they worked on themselves. The whole family had been given a second chance at the peaceful lives they deserved; even their shelter advocate was amazed at the difference a Safe Escape grant had made for this family:

“This program is amazing, and every person who is fleeing an abuser can have peace of mind knowing that while they come up with a plan, their abuser cannot hurt their pets.”

We are grateful for every family that is kept safe and whole with a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant. Thank you for your support in helping us protect the precious bonds between domestic violence survivors and their pets.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

P.S. Please consider making a Safe Escape possible for every survivor with a generous gift today.