Expanding Safety and Healing for the Whole Family – Including Pets

At Friendship Home, we have always believed that every person experiencing domestic violence deserves safety, comfort, and the chance to heal. We’re proud to take that commitment even further by expanding our services to provide shelter not just for individuals and children, but for pets, too. 

For many facing domestic violence, leaving an abusive situation is not as simple as walking out the door. In addition to emotional and financial challenges, there is one heartbreaking barrier that often goes unspoken: What happens to pets?  

The reality is sobering. Studies show that 48% of domestic violence survivors delay leaving an abusive situation out of fear for their pet’s safety.* This is a fear we can no longer allow to be a barrier to safety.  

This new initiative was designed with survivors in mind—those who have shared their stories of being unable to flee because they didn’t want to leave their dog, or those whose abuser used threats against their cat as a means of control. We’ve heard these stories, and we are responding with action.  

As part of this expansion, we are:  

• Creating partnerships with local organizations to provide resources for pet care  

• Offering pet care supplies, food, and veterinary services to families in our programs  

• Training our team to recognize and respond to the unique trauma survivors may experience related to their pets  

This isn’t just about animals—it’s about preserving the bonds that matter most. For many survivors, pets are more than companions—they’re family, and a vital source of emotional support. By providing a safe place for both survivors and their pets, we’re eliminating a major barrier to leaving abuse and opening the door to healing together.  

With your continued support, Friendship Home can be a place of hope and safety for the entire family—paws and all.  

No one should have to choose between safety and love. Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out these expanded services. Thank you for standing with us as we continue to walk alongside survivors on their journey to freedom.  

Give today through the Lincoln Community Foundation’s Give to Lincoln Day to help support pets at Friendship Home!

*(American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, n.d.)