The last time you went out of town, you made sure your pet had everything they needed: their food, their favorite toy, and a safe place to stay or maybe you brought them along. You took care of them, because they’re family.
But what if home stopped being a safe place? What if you needed to leave quickly, not for a trip, but to protect yourself? That’s exactly what happened to Carly. Her golden retriever, Moose, wasn’t just a pet. He was her constant companion, her best friend.
When Carly met Ethan, one of the things she loved most about him was how much he adored Moose too. She’d finally found someone who understood her heart. But over time, the red flags she’d brushed aside started piling up. Two years in, Ethan’s jealousy and need for control boiled to the surface and he realized he had the ultimate weapon: Moose.
“If you’re not home, who’s going to make sure Moose doesn’t ‘get out’?”
“If you go out, what if something bad happens to him while you’re gone?”
“One day you’ll come home and he just won’t be here.”
“I could take him to the pound tomorrow.”
“If you ever tried to leave, Moose wouldn’t be coming with you.”
Every outing came with a threat. Slowly, her world shrank until it was just her, Ethan, and the constant fear of what might happen to her and Moose if she stepped out of line.
One day, he shoved her so hard she fell and hit her head. Weeks later, before one of Carly’s biggest presentations, he beat her until the light in her eyes was replaced by bruises. After he left for work, Carly sat on the living room floor, sobbing. Through the fog of her tears, she remembered a CASA card she’d tucked into her purse months earlier.
With shaking hands, she picked up the phone to call CASA’s hotline… then froze. One thought held her back: What about Moose? Still, she made the call. The advocate assured her that Moose could stay at the kennel at their Emergency Shelter. CASA was one of the few shelters nationwide making sure survivors never have to choose between their own safety and their pets’ safety.
That day, CASA gave Carly and Moose a way out together. They started a new chapter side by side, safe and supported. Did you know CASA is leading the way to keep survivors and their pets safe? After her call, Carly was surprised by how many services CASA offered—from help filing injunctions and attending group support sessions to access to different types of housing.
Now, you have the chance to give that same hope to other survivors. a generous donor is matching all end-of-year donations for our on-site kennel and survivor pet services, ensuring no one has to choose between their safety and their pets. Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, including our pets.
