By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
From the beginning, there was no one closer to Eden* than their cat, Astra*. Eden had received an official letter from their therapist to have Astra as an emotional support animal, living in their college dorm. They needed her even more after graduating; once they experienced abuse from a partner, only Astra could make them feel safe.
Eden left after yet another episode of violence, leaving everything they valued behind, except for Astra. While Eden would be safe in the domestic violence shelter, Astra wouldn’t be able to join them. Instead, they sent their sweet girl to stay with their brother temporarily, hoping that a familiar face would make Astra more comfortable. If anything, staying with family made it harder for her to understand why Eden wasn’t there with her. Their brother reported that Astra was stressed and avoiding everyone. In three years, they had never been apart for long. Days felt like weeks, and it did not help Eden to know their baby was upset. Until they could be assured that Astra was both safe and happy, they wouldn’t be ready to take the next steps toward their new life together.
Even though Astra wasn’t happy, she was safe with Eden’s brother, and that gave them time to find not just a different place but the right place for Astra. Once Eden and their advocate found a boarding facility where they were confident about Astra’s care, they applied for a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant to cover the costs of her stay. The staff at the boarding facility could give her individual attention and comfort her when she seemed stressed, while Eden could call for updates as often as they liked. They wished they could be there in person for Astra, but it was important for both of them that they stay focused on their healing at the domestic violence shelter. The sooner they could complete their program and find a new, safe place for them to live, the sooner they would be together again like they had every day for years before.
Their advocate prioritized finding affordable, pet-friendly housing for Eden, a sustainable foundation for their better future. After a long month in the domestic violence shelter, Eden was ready to pick Astra up from the boarding facility and head to their new home. With another family protected, the shelter advocate reached out with an update on Eden and Astra:
“This grant was an absolute miracle for a client whose safe living options were limited because they were scared of leaving their cat in an unsafe situation. RedRover’s support made it possible for them to explore alternate, safe housing instead of returning to an abusive environment. The client and their cat are now happy and safe in a new location.”
You, like RedRover, believe that every domestic violence survivor deserves to be happy and safe with their pet, enjoying peaceful new lives together, and your generous support makes that belief a reality. Thank you for ensuring families like Eden and Astra can count on RedRover in times of crisis!
*Names have been changed to protect privacy