Nevada animal shelter helps domestic violence survivors stay united with their pets

LAS VEGAS – When domestic violence survivors think about leaving their abusers, one deterrent is to leave their pets behind. Very few women’s shelters allow pets, but a Nevada nonprofit aims to break down that barrier.

The goal of Noah’s Animal House is to keep survivors of domestic violence united with their pets in partnership with a women’s shelter next door. One survivor drove for hours halfway across the country to stay there.

Fox News calls her “Sarah” to protect her privacy.

“Can you do a high five? Now say please. Good job. Good boy,” Sarah said playing with her dog Baxter.

Baxter is a family. And leaving him behind was not an option for Sarah. She has been in an abusive relationship for 10 years.

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One day, she decided that she, her children and Baxter were leaving.

“For about three weeks, we slept in a car with Baxter because I didn’t know there was a place,” Sarah said. “And I was making a few calls and they said you could go to Noah’s, and we’ve been here ever since.”

Noah’s Animal House formed in 2007 in partnership with The shade tree shelter for homeless and abused women and children.

It was the first combined shelter of its kind.

As of this month, Noah’s Animal House has helped 2,021 pets from 34 different states.

“Your dog or cat is such an important part of your family that so many women wouldn’t leave their abuser because they couldn’t leave their pet behind,” said Lori Kraft, board member.

When the pet shelter first opened, there were only 3% of women’s shelters that offered pet services. This has since climbed to around 20%.

“We wanted to make sure there were no barriers for a woman facing domestic violence and allow her to leave her abuser.”

Between its two locations in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, Noah’s Animal House can care for 80 pets at a time, providing veterinary care, food, toys, and private cuddling rooms.

“Staying in a domestic violence shelter doesn’t really feel right, but being in a cuddle room, cuddling your cat or dog, and it’s like being at home,” Kraft said.

Noah’s Animal House was founded in 2007 to help survivors of domestic violence stay united with their pets. (Ashley Soriano / Fox News)

Sarah and her children have lived at The Shade Tree for four months and can visit Baxter anytime.

“He’s like my kid. I don’t leave him anywhere. He’s everything to me, just like my kids, and it’s also my job to keep him safe,” Sarah said.

She wants other victims and survivors to know there is a way out.

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“When you go through it, it’s sad. It’s scary,” Sarah said. “But soon we’ll have a house and get my dog ​​back.”

Noah’s Animal House even looked after snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, parrots, tarantulas, ferrets and goldfish.

They accept women and children from any city or state.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and its milestone of serving 2,021 pets in 2021, Noah’s Animal House asks donations of $ 20.21.

This amount can provide treats to shelter pets for a month.