By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
It wasn’t until an abuser held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her that Melanie* left. With the help of law enforcement, she and her two dogs, Kiki* and Mochi*, left the abusive home behind and went to a domestic violence shelter.
Melanie had been neglecting her health all while she endured the violence, and now that she was free, she knew it was time to put herself first. She took the important steps of starting therapy and seeing a doctor, where she learned she was going to need an important medical procedure. The domestic violence shelter accepted pets, but with no specific staff to care for them, it was each family’s responsibility to watch their animals. Melanie had a lot of healing to do, both emotionally and physically. She could never have her procedure or safely recover if she were looking after Kiki and Mochi, making sure they were happy and comfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
With the help of a RedRover Relief Safe Escape grant, Kiki and Mochi were safely boarded, giving Melanie the confidence to go forward with her procedure and continue healing while in the shelter. When she recovered, they could rejoin her at the shelter until the day they were ready to leave again as a family and begin an entirely new chapter – in good health and free from violence.
We’re grateful that families like Melanie, Kiki, and Mochi can not only make a safe escape because of you, but also find the healing they need for a better future. Thank you for being an important part of the RedRover community and supporting the Safe Escape grant program!
*Names have been changed to protect privacy