Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello, I have just joined this community and this is my first time posting. I am a veterinarian and I started High Country Paws, Inc. in 2023 to provide assistance to DV survivors and their pets. My initial mission was to develop a large foster network to care for the pets while the survivor was in the shelter and then reunite them. It was extremely difficult to get any fosters on board. I have a vet tech who is excellent and was fostering the big dogs however one day she was bitten by the dog and then I got a little panicky about having any other fosters. So I started providing funds for boarding pets and for pet friendly hotel stays. This week I've been contacted by two separate families. One has 2 large dogs and the other has 2 cats. All of my usual boarding facilities are full due to the 4th of July. One of the survivors found a petsitter through Rover.com and I agreed to pay. It is a little more expensive than boarding and the pets get to be together and out of the stress of the kennel environment. I am thinking of making this my new model. I was hoping to get some advice and guidance on this new approach. I am working with the local DV shelter in my community to apply for the Safe Housing Grant from Red Rover. I have also received a grant from the NCVMA. 

Thanks for any words of wisdom. I appreciate it. 

#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)

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Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
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Kathleen, I love this initiative! I do something similar with my local DVC. Also, they applied for a grant to become pet friendly. Would your local DVC consider doing that?

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Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN
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I am working with the local shelter on applying for Red Rover's Safe Housing Grant. They are building a new shelter and we are. working together to make that one have some animal accomodations. I see that you are in Tennessee. I have had some cases from TN and I didn't know of anyone to reach out to for help. Would you mind to share your  email address? 

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Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 03:32 AM
From: Renee Milner
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Kathleen, I love this initiative! I do something similar with my local DVC. Also, they applied for a grant to become pet friendly. Would your local DVC consider doing that?

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Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN
------------------------------

I am in TN and have worked with a few organizations that may be able to help you with how they set up similar assistance.   Pawster is located in Nashville and is is a crisis foster organization.  They specifically take animals when people are not able to house them but want them back when they are back on their feet.  Gabe, the founder, has done a great job with working with waivers, liability, and foremost, educating his fosters to help prevent things from happening in the first place.  (It's so important to keep in mind that these animals have likely been abused/traumatized as well)

Also, close to Nashville is Abbie's Safe House - it is a branch of the local YWCA that houses families getting out of DV situations and they have a separate facility on-site where pets can be housed.  They have very specific parameters regarding the family continuing to care for the pets while there and what that looks like. 

I might also look into Animal Humane Society in MN.  They used to have a Safe House program as well, but not sure if they still do. I did a lot of work in Chicago several years ago to try to do something similar.  Lots of nuance involved when it came to keeping things quiet/private and ensuring the safety of the animals and the people involved.

THANK YOU for working to help with these very challenging situations.  

------------------------------
Kym Iffert
Consultant
Dog Whys, LLC
TN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 06:01 AM
From: Kathleen Byrnes
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

I am working with the local shelter on applying for Red Rover's Safe Housing Grant. They are building a new shelter and we are. working together to make that one have some animal accomodations. I see that you are in Tennessee. I have had some cases from TN and I didn't know of anyone to reach out to for help. Would you mind to share your  email address? 

------------------------------
Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 03:32 AM
From: Renee Milner
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Kathleen, I love this initiative! I do something similar with my local DVC. Also, they applied for a grant to become pet friendly. Would your local DVC consider doing that?

------------------------------
Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN

Thank you so much for all of these resources.  I will try to read about each one and keep them in mind if I have another TN case.  THANK YOU!!!

------------------------------
Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 07:38 AM
From: Kym Iffert
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

I am in TN and have worked with a few organizations that may be able to help you with how they set up similar assistance.   Pawster is located in Nashville and is is a crisis foster organization.  They specifically take animals when people are not able to house them but want them back when they are back on their feet.  Gabe, the founder, has done a great job with working with waivers, liability, and foremost, educating his fosters to help prevent things from happening in the first place.  (It's so important to keep in mind that these animals have likely been abused/traumatized as well)

Also, close to Nashville is Abbie's Safe House - it is a branch of the local YWCA that houses families getting out of DV situations and they have a separate facility on-site where pets can be housed.  They have very specific parameters regarding the family continuing to care for the pets while there and what that looks like. 

I might also look into Animal Humane Society in MN.  They used to have a Safe House program as well, but not sure if they still do. I did a lot of work in Chicago several years ago to try to do something similar.  Lots of nuance involved when it came to keeping things quiet/private and ensuring the safety of the animals and the people involved.

THANK YOU for working to help with these very challenging situations.  

------------------------------
Kym Iffert
Consultant
Dog Whys, LLC
TN
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 06:01 AM
From: Kathleen Byrnes
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

I am working with the local shelter on applying for Red Rover's Safe Housing Grant. They are building a new shelter and we are. working together to make that one have some animal accomodations. I see that you are in Tennessee. I have had some cases from TN and I didn't know of anyone to reach out to for help. Would you mind to share your  email address? 

------------------------------
Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC


Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 03:32 AM
From: Renee Milner
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Kathleen, I love this initiative! I do something similar with my local DVC. Also, they applied for a grant to become pet friendly. Would your local DVC consider doing that?

------------------------------
Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN

Hi, everyone,

First, I just have to say this is amazing work you are all doing. Also, you may already be aware of BestyBnB, but i saw them do a presentation last year and was quite impressed. I have not worked with them and so can not vouch for them personally,  but I thought their mission and model seemed well thought out. The site works just for people looking for pet friendly BnBs, but also offers  affordable options for those suffering domestic abuse who need shelter where their pet is welcome. Offering just in case it's useful: https://bestybnb.com/

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Gary Evans
President
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
MI
------------------------------

Hey Gary,

I had not heard of them before. but someone else mentioned them as well. I emailed them yesterday and signed up for their newsletter.  Thank you so much for the info.

------------------------------
Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-29-2025 08:33 AM
From: Gary Evans
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Hi, everyone,

First, I just have to say this is amazing work you are all doing. Also, you may already be aware of BestyBnB, but i saw them do a presentation last year and was quite impressed. I have not worked with them and so can not vouch for them personally,  but I thought their mission and model seemed well thought out. The site works just for people looking for pet friendly BnBs, but also offers  affordable options for those suffering domestic abuse who need shelter where their pet is welcome. Offering just in case it's useful: https://bestybnb.com/

------------------------------
Gary Evans
President
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
MI
------------------------------

Hi Kathleen, 

Just want to share with you a directory that may be helpful: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/

You should be able to search in your area, or help folks look in their own region. Safe Havens also offers grants for organizations to become more pet friendly at various intervals!

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Tessa Archibald
Homes for Horses Coalition
------------------------------

Hey Tessa,

Thank you so much for this resource. I will look into safehavens today.

------------------------------
Kathleen Byrnes
Veterinarian
High Country Paws, Inc.
NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2025 08:25 AM
From: Tessa Archibald
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Hi Kathleen, 

Just want to share with you a directory that may be helpful: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/

You should be able to search in your area, or help folks look in their own region. Safe Havens also offers grants for organizations to become more pet friendly at various intervals!

------------------------------
Tessa Archibald
Homes for Horses Coalition
------------------------------

Tessa thank you so very much for sharing this! I have ran into DV victims with pets and having to get creative to be able to assist them. 

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Pamela Gilcrease
Advocate/Volunteer
Grant Parish Animal Care and Control
LA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2025 08:25 AM
From: Tessa Archibald
Subject: Struggles with keeping Domestic Violence Survivors and their pets together

Hi Kathleen, 

Just want to share with you a directory that may be helpful: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/

You should be able to search in your area, or help folks look in their own region. Safe Havens also offers grants for organizations to become more pet friendly at various intervals!

------------------------------
Tessa Archibald
Homes for Horses Coalition
------------------------------

Hi Kathleen,

 I am working on a similar initiative in mid-Michigan with a community collaborative of a few different organizations and we are also in the research phase! In fact, I commented earlier today on another post in Maddie's about this topic (but of course now I can't find it). The biggest question we have right now is around privacy, logistics, waivers and liability - so we are trying to learn from any other groups that are already working on this. I will share back any good findings I get. Also, here's a really good Maddie's resource I just watched earlier today: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/discussion/community-conversations-100724-understanding-domestic-violence-to-better-support-survivors-and-their-pets

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Alycia Norton
President
PALS of PAWS in Saginaw County
MI
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