Domestic-violence victims fleeing their abusers no longer have to worry about leaving their beloved pets behind, thanks to a new shelter opening soon in Brooklyn.
PALS Place will boast 30 apartment-style units for about 100 people and 30 pets, making it the largest shelter of its kind in the nation.
Although other shelters have been retrofitted to accommodate pets, PALS — which stands for People and Animals Living Safely — Place will be the first built from the ground up with attention to nonhuman needs, with features including a grooming station, an outdoor “pet haven” play area and walls painted in soothing hues easy on animal eyes.
“We knew from talking with survivors that people absolutely love their pets, and we knew a certain number of victims wouldn’t leave their pets behind,” said Nathaniel Fields, CEO of Urban Resource Institute, which is behind PALS Place and operates on a combination of government funding and private donations.
“People aren’t seeking safety for this primary reason,” he explained.
A national survey of domestic-violence survivors found that 48 percent of victims refused to enter a shelter because it would mean leaving their animals behind — and in more than 70 percent of cases, the abuser either threatened, harmed or killed the victim’s pet, according to Fields.
“We understood often that pets were being used as part of the power and control dynamic,” he said. “Pets were often a hidden victim.”
Domestic-violence survivor Hope Dawson can attest to the importance of having her animal companion.
The 33-year-old mother of two fled domestic violence in Houston for Brooklyn in 2016, only to find that many shelters refused to take
in her rescue dog, Coco.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do for Coco, and there was no way we could not have Coco with us,” Dawson said. “She’s just a part of our family.”
She eventually found her way to one of URI’s pet-friendly shelters.
“You’d think I’d won the lottery,” Dawson said. “My whole family could be together.”
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