To help with pet-shelter kennels for families fleeing from domestic violence, contact Suzanne@HCCares.com or 830-257-7088, x. 125
Please let Suzanne@HCCares.com or 830-257-7088, x. 125 know if you / your organization(s) want to help with pet kennels in Kerrville … for pets of families fleeing from domestic violence.
In the backyard of the Kerrville, TX, domestic-violence survivors’ shelter, we have a small enclosure for survivors that bring dogs. When I say enclosure, I mean 4 chain link panels with a gate, probably 7′ x 7′, no covering for shade. It is adequate for a dog, or 2-3 from the same family, or maybe two from different families that get a long together. Only adequate – too small most certain.
We are fortunate enough to have a wonderful volunteer that comes to our shelter weekly to teach a bible study. Prior to joining us, she had been to the Kendall County Women’s Shelter and saw their pet facility. I haven’t seen it, but word is, is it outstanding, and most certainly very expensive. Our volunteer graciously decided to have a fundraiser to build new kennels for Hill Country Crisis Center. She moved from Houston a few years ago, does not have as many Hill Country connections and lives in Comfort. She reached out to her friends in the Reserve where she lives, and found an overwhelming number of people wanted to form a committee and help her fundraiser for this project! Very generous and exciting! She is toying around with the idea of a golf tournament at the Buckhorn. She asked that I reach out to our board in hopes a member or two would like to join this committee.
It may be difficult to understand the dynamics of domestic violence, and even more so to grasp that people not being to bring their pets with them can actually decide to stay in the relationship. As Brent, and our Director of Trauma Services, Kim Olden can attest to, we have recently had to turn women away because we could not accommodate their dogs. I asked Kim to help explain this dynamic:
“It is very common for survivors of intimate partner violence to want to take their pets with them. Threats of abusing or killing pets are made often times as a form of control. We have had clients receive pictures of their destroyed animal, and we currently have one in the shelter that had a pet killed the day she left, and has since been told that
he another one was killed. The most dangerous time for a survivor in an abusive relationship is when she is trying to leave. The abuser begins intensifying his means to control her. We do attempt to problem solve the issues with those seeking shelter asking if they have a friend or a family member who can care for their pet/pets while they are here. Then we frequently run into two more common abuse tactics used by abusers to create barriers to a woman seeking safety: isolation and social sabotage. Many survivors have been isolated by their abuser and have lost contact with all family and friends, and many relationships have been sabotaged by the abuser.”
It can be intensified when there are children. The children are already leaving everything they know; asking them to leave their pets as well is another added trauma. Include the fact that many children will have heard that their pet will be killed. Very sad situation.
It would be great to have proper kennels that can accommodate more pets, easier to clean, and safer and more comfortable for the pets! Let me know if any of you would like to speak to our volunteer.
Thank you, Suzanne Tomerlin, Development Director, Hill Country Crisis Council, 830-257-7088 ext 125
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