MARQUETTE, MI-- The Women’s Center in Marquette not only offers refuge for human victims of domestic and sexual violence, but now for their pets, as well.
The center recently received a $5,300 grant from the Banfield Charitable Trust for its Sasawin project. Sasawin is the Anishinaabe word for “nest” or “safe place.” The project provides foster homes for companion animals of survivors who seek shelter at the Harbor House, which doesn’t allow pets.
Project director Helen Kahn says animals are often targets of abuse, and oftentimes survivors won’t leave them to seek help.
“It may be the only living being that they really feel close to, that they feel trusts them and that they trust,” she says. “It’s a very, very close bond. I’ve heard people say, ‘this is like my child to me.’ And they feel really strongly about that.”
Kahn says most of the grant money will be used for a veterinary health check before the animal is placed in a foster home. Food and other supplies are also included at no cost to survivors or foster families.
The project is a partnership between the Women’s Center, NMU, and UPAWS. For more information, call Kahn at 227-1121.
