Animal rescue partners with 3 domestic violence shelters | News

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but for Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, in partnership with Sojourner Center and A New Leaf’s Autumn House, it’s a year-round effort to tackle the challenges faced by pet owners who are leaving a domestic violence situation. 

The trio has pulled resources to ensure victims get the support they need to get a fresh start while knowing their pet companions have what they need to thrive, including a safe place to stay in an on-site kennel or temporary foster care, training and emotional support, and access to essential needs like pet food and community resources.

“We are dedicated to helping people and pets through crisis situations,” said Jodi Polanski, founder and executive director of Lost our Home Pet Rescue. 

“Our partnerships with Sojourner Center and Autumn House allow us to assist vulnerable members of the community by removing the fear of leaving a pet behind in an unsafe space. Together, we are helping put families at ease by ensure safe and cared for during an already stressful transition.”

According to a national survey on domestic violence and pets collected by The Urban Resource Institute and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 97% of respondents said that keeping their pets with them is an important factor in deciding whether or not to seek shelter.

Sojourner Center began its partnership with Lost Our Home in 2015, providing a safe shelter option for families while their animal companions found refuge at Lost Our Home facilities. 

The program has since grown to include an on-site shelter as part of Sojourner Center’s pet companion services, where Lost Our Home continues to assist with pet care, training, therapy and more. 

Part of Sojourner Center’s expanded pet companion services program includes six fully renovated suite-style rooms where survivors and their pets can remain together during their stay in an emergency shelter. 

The pet friendly suites were unveiled last year, and include updated furnishings, dog doors, private bathrooms and are located adjacent to a brand-new dog park. 

According to Bailey DeRoest, co-director at Sojourner Center, the pet friendly room renovation project and the partnership forged with Lost Our Home Pet Rescue is a testament to Sojourner Center’s commitment to go above and beyond to meet the needs of survivors.

“Our partnership with Lost Our Home Pet Rescue underscores our commitment to holistic support for survivors. To date, we have helped nearly 600 pets through the partnership,” said DeRoest. “We believe that keeping families together—including their pets—can play a vital role in the healing process.”

The survey also reported that 76% of respondents reported noticeable changes in their pets’ behavior as a result of abuse.

Autumn House, a domestic violence shelter operated by A New Leaf, partners with Lost Our Home and Sojourner Center for training programs for pet companion specialists, including providing support for families with pets, guidance for training, evaluation, and staff education, supplying donations, shared veterinary clinic resources and the distribution of pet-related resources.

“It’s been a game changer to offer support to our families and their pets,” said Alicia Misilao, program manager at Autumn House. 

“We can help care for them while they are at work, and we have access to a shared veterinary to provide care at a reduced cost.  The program is working really well, and we look forward to growing it.”

Lost Our Home Pet Rescue provides services like temporary pet care for up to 90 days and access to a pet food bank for those in need. 

Information: lostourhome.org. 

About Lost Our Home Pet Rescue

Lost Our Home was founded in 2008 in response to the thousands of pets in need as a result of the economic downturn in general, and the Phoenix-area foreclosure crisis in particular. They are the only shelter in Maricopa County dedicated to rescuing pets abandoned or at risk of homelessness due to pet parents’ life crises: eviction, domestic violence, job loss, illness, and more. They are dedicated to bridging the care gap between people who find themselves in crisis and pets who often have no place to go during these challenging circumstances. They have helped over 34,000 pets in a time of crisis, adopted more than 10,000 pets, provided 130,600 nights of safe shelter to pets whose owners were in crisis, and provided over 1 million nutritional meals to hungry pets through their Pet-Food Bank Program. Lost Our Home Pet Rescue specializes in helping domestic violence victims with their pets. They have valued partnerships with several domestic violence shelters to serve victims and their pets.To learn more about Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, visit LostOurHome.org, or call (602) 445-7387 (PETS).

About Sojourner Center

Established in 1977, Sojourner Center has served as a sanctuary for women and children escaping domestic and sexual violence. Each year, we impact the lives of nearly 2,000 individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking through our comprehensive residential and support services. We remove barriers to safety by offering pet-friendly accommodations, ensuring survivors can remain with their beloved pets. Our unique Child Development Center provides licensed childcare, recognized with a 5-star Quality First NECPA accreditation. In addition to emergency shelter, Sojourner Center offers transitional housing, pet companion services, community outreach, and lay legal services, that empower survivors on their journey to healing. Learn more about our mission and services at sojournercenter.org.