Compassion in Action in Our Own Backyard

By Katie Campbell, President and CEO –

There’s something special about each of our Don’t Forget the Pets (DFTP) workshops – from the connections made for attendees and for us, to the conversations and learning, to the collaborative relationships in the making – it’s compassion in action! But our recent workshop in Sacramento, California, RedRover’s own backyard, was something truly special and meaningful for me.

Before joining RedRover 10 years ago, my background was in human services, and I started that journey as an AmeriCorps member (too many years ago for me to call out here!) at one of the Birth and Beyond Family Resource Centers (FRC) in Sacramento. I’m proud to say it was a life-changing experience for me that continues to impact and guide my work today.

I’ll also admit that I hadn’t yet had my “lightbulb moment” regarding the link between domestic and animal violence during that time. As a lifelong animal lover, and someone working with families experiencing crises like domestic violence or homelessness, I hadn’t put it together yet that not recognizing and supporting the entire family unit – people and their pets together – creates a barrier to service. That the power of the human-animal bond is transformative and supportive in the healing process. It wasn’t until learning about RedRover that my lightbulb switched on.

<< You can help us raise $30,000 for animals in crisis and pet communities in need from April 23 through Big Day of Giving on May 7 >>

So, working with the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center to provide a DFTP workshop at one of their FRC locations last month was a full-circle moment for me. It was like coming home to do some of my favorite things – to bring people together and share my lightbulb moment.

I say it often, but I truly believe that we are better when we work together. Bringing together organizations from Sacramento and the surrounding area (we even had folks from Australia and Oklahoma attend!) was incredibly special for us. To share the importance of recognizing whole families and witnessing the moments when one organization says, “We could use support with…” and another organization immediately jumps in to say, “We’ve got you!” is special.

This community collaboration is impactful, it’s a game-changer, it’s keeping people and their pets together through crisis. It’s compassion in action.