The Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK) has received a $5,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help keep more pets in loving homes and out of shelters in Salina and the surrounding counties.
As the face of family changes over the years, what remains constant is the role pets play in our lives. Many people consider pets family members and it can be challenging to find resources when facing life changes and issues such as lack of pet-friendly housing or fleeing domestic violence in search of a safe-haven. Pet parents in these and other at-risk situations often determine they have no options beyond surrendering their beloved pet to a local shelter.
With this grant, DVACK will help preserve the bond between pets and their people by providing safe shelter to survivors fleeing domestic and/or sexual violence. These grant funds will also assist in providing pet essentials such as food, bedding, bowls, containment, grooming, boarding, transportation, necessary veterinary medical services and pet deposits in order to attain appropriate housing.
“This grant will assist us in providing the necessary items and care needed for people and their pets both while in shelter and when they transition into their new violence free home. We are very fortunate to be a pet-friendly safe shelter and domestic and sexual violence service provider as there are very few within our state. Oftentimes victims are hesitant to leave if they are unable to bring their pets with them. Now we are not only able to aid in the safety of humans but animals alike,” said Andrea Quill, CEO, DVACK.
“We’re proud to support DVACK’s work to keep pets and people together as they transition to safety,” said Jenny Aho, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “Far too often pet parents have to choose between a beloved pet and their own safety, and with this work, they no longer have to.” Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped many pets find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,600 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $40 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with DVACK.
About DVACK
DVACK provides free, voluntary & confidential services to primary and secondary survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, teen dating violence, elder abuse and human trafficking and serves 10 counties in North-Central Kansas. DVACK is open 24-hours a day to help those individuals fleeing from violence and believes that all individuals have the right to live a life free of abuse.
In addition to survivor service, DVACK staff conducts educational presentations and trainings to various community organizations, agencies, businesses, civic groups and individuals in an effort to raise awareness and educate on the dynamics of family and relational violence. Find us online at www.dvack.org.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $40 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.