For years, whenever A.L. would plop down on the couch, at least one of her family’s five cats would come running, jumping up to stretch out next to her. Snuggling provided comfort in a volatile — and at times violent — home life. Though A.L. wanted to leave, she couldn’t fathom leaving her cats behind.
“They’re family. You don’t want to just get rid of them,” said A.L., an 18-year-old domestic violence survivor from the Seattle area who asked to be identified by her initials for safety concerns.
Many survivors, up to 50% according to multiple surveys, delay or don’t even consider leaving abusive situations because of their pets. They can’t imagine abandoning their trusted companions, and — because abusers often hurt animals, too — in many cases, survivors fear for their pets’ safety. So they stay.
While things are starting to change, only a fraction of U.S. domestic violence shelters offer pet accommodations, according to a 2021 report from Urban Resource Institute and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which cited a “critical” need for these types of shelters.
There are only a handful in King County, and for A.L., “it was really hard trying to find a place that would allow … pets to come in with you.”
The Eastside’s Hope Starts Here is one such shelter. A.L. landed in one of the shelter’s apartments with her sister, her mother and their five cats in the spring. LifeWire, a nonprofit that has provided housing, legal and mental health services to domestic violence survivors on Seattle’s Eastside for 42 years, opened the 25-unit shelter in 2023 to accommodate survivors and their family members — including furry ones. LifeWire is among 13 nonprofits benefiting this year from readers’ donations to The Seattle Times Fund for Those in Need.
Each year, The Seattle Times Fund for Those in Need raises money for charities that help children, families and older adults. Throughout the season, we tell the stories of people and organizations who make a difference in the lives of thousands, and the impact donors can have.
“When you’re in shelter and in the process of healing and in the process of stabilizing … not having to hide whatever animal you have, and being able to ask for resources, I think is really great,” said Karen Martinez, LifeWire’s homelessness services manager.
Before 2023, one of the nonprofit’s two transitional shelters was communal, which meant they couldn’t accommodate pets for allergy and safety reasons.
As LifeWire worked to secure housing for the folks in its shelter, finding a place that allowed pets sometimes proved difficult: Housing providers often only accepted pets with certain documentation, like proof for an emotional support or service animal — the kind of documents survivors often don’t have because they are fleeing.
“A lot of the times, they don’t even have, like, their driver’s license, their birth certificate,” Martinez said. “So, no, they don’t have their doctor’s note for their pup or their cat.”
There are about two dozen pet-accommodating shelters in Washington, according to Safe Havens for Pets, a national directory established by the Animal Welfare Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Elizabeth Montoya, communications coordinator for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said that’s likely to increase.
“WA domestic violence advocates and shelters are recognizing that survivors have more opportunities to get safe when they can keep their pets with them and are moving towards allowing pets in shelter much more frequently,” she said in an email.
For now, though, Hope Starts Here is one among just a few in the region. The shelter prioritizes applications from families with kids and/or pets — and it is built with them in mind. The units are spacious; the complex is fenced in and has outdoor space to play in. There are multiple dog waste disposal stations with free bags and dedicated bins. The LifeWire team also ensured the plants in the courtyard are safe for chew-happy pets.
Today, the building complex is home to two dozen families rebuilding their lives and roughly as many pets: 11 cats, 11 dogs, a hamster, a fish and an iguana.
One of the newest residents is Zero, an 8-month-old, off-white, brown-eyed Malanees (an Alaskan malamute and Great Pyrenees mix) named after the ghost-dog character from “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” A.L. has only had Zero for a few weeks; she adopted him while in the shelter. As Zero lies by A.L.’s feet, occasionally yawning or scratching his side, A.L. explains that she was drawn to his mellow personality. Zero is “just sweet and caring — a family dog.”
Already, the fast-growing pup no longer looks like a puppy — and he’ll get only bigger. “Almost double,” A.L. smiles.
The two are already completely at ease with each other, their bond clear from the way A.L. rests her hand on her dog’s head; how he leans into her, almost protective.
Already, Zero’s helped his companion with emotional and physical healing (from a surgery a few months ago). From cuddles to dog park outings and daily walks, Zero’s presence has nudged A.L. to get outside, supported her through hard times and “helped the healing stage of some things,” she said.
It’s also pushed her to get a job to cover Zero’s costs.
HSH also helps folks who can’t afford pet care. The shelter wants to make sure that every animal is cared for, so it partners with local organizations like Seattle Humane to provide free or discounted veterinary care and pet supplies like food, crates, cooling mats, toys and medications, as well as boarding when needed. LifeWire is also planning to provide training sessions about the intersection of domestic violence and pet care to staff at those nonprofits.
“We get a lot of dog treats,” said Martinez, sitting in the Hope Starts Here office annex/storage room. A dog crate sat folded up under the sink and on the shelf rested a box with a bunch of colorful dog toys — some of the few that hadn’t been taken, mostly because they’re too big. Small dogs are especially popular at HSH. “We do have a lot of Chihuahuas here,” Martinez said.
LifeWire’s pet services are supported with the nonprofit’s general funding as well as some one-time grants. The organization plans to do additional fundraising to maintain and extend the program.
Many survivors are profoundly bonded with their animals, which have often witnessed violence as well, Martinez said. “A lot of the times, the animals are protecting them in those situations,” she said. “They’ve gone through all of the same situations together.”
Once at the shelter, it’s not all immediate sunshine and roses: Some pets have exhibited behavioral challenges due to the transition, which LifeWire is planning to address through future behavioral support. And, just like anywhere else, some dogs and their owners have been a little too generous with leaving gifts on the HSH lawn.
But the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks: For many survivors, pets can ease the transition and emotional distress by providing emotional support and comfort.
“It can be very, very healing for folks to be able to get a dog, or get a kitten,” Martinez said. “Even a reptile.”