A Safe Place for Calvin and Hobbes
Donation protected
Escaping Abuse
The link between violence against humans and animals is overwhelming. Research indicates that 48% of domestic violence survivors stay with their abusers because they fear what will happen to their pets (Carlisle-Frank, Frank, & Nielsen 2004). Unfortunately, in a home where abuse occurs, it is likely that pets will be part of the cycle of cruelty.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 71% of women experiencing domestic violence reported that their abusers had threatened, harmed, or even killed a family pet. In much the same way that children can be used as pawns, animals in volatile homes are often used as a way for the abuser to exert power and control. Fear for animals’ safety in abusive homes is a very real and important concern for survivors of domestic violence.
Our Story
When I chose to leave my boyfriend of 5 years last month, I finally had the strength and courage to leave an abusive relationship. Even though the choice between staying in an abusive relationship and becoming homeless was not easy, it was clear that leaving was my only option for survival. The hardest part of this transition is providing a stable environment for my retired racing greyhounds, Calvin and Hobbes. My boyfriend and I had adopted them together 3 years ago, and as their primary caregiver I knew that they had to come with me. I also feared my ex would retaliate against them.
Although I have somewhere safe to stay temporarily with my dogs through mid-January, I am looking to raise this money by February 1st, 2016 to be able to provide for them in an expensive city where it is near impossible to find housing that allows large dogs. No one should be forced to choose between her pets’ safety and her own. You can help provide us with the space to begin building a new life free from abuse.
I am asking you to chip in whatever you can to provide me with more options and make the complicated process of leaving an abusive relationship a little easier.
This would mean so much for me because Calvin and Hobbes have been my source of unconditional love and I have been so devoted to them and their well being in the three years that they have been a part of my family. As retired racing greyhounds, for the first years of their lives they were forced to run for sport so that other people could profit from their suffering. When we brought them home in 2012, I vowed I would go to any lengths never to let Calvin and Hobbes suffer like that again. Please help us make it through this difficult transition by contributing whatever you can.
Paying It Forward
I have been so grateful for all of the love and support that I have received during this tumultuous time. To help others in need, I pledge to making a matching donation to the two greyhound rescues that have made Calvin and Hobbes' home life possible: Greyhound Pets Inc (GPI) and Golden State Greyhound Association (GSGA). The work that they do improves the lives of so many animals and their owners. As a long-time volunteer for GPI, I witnessed the transformations that these loving dogs underwent when they were given a second chance at life. Everyone deserves a chance to love and be loved.
I will donate 100% of what I raise through this campaign. I will give 80% to GPI, which is where I adopted Calvin and Hobbes in 2012, and I will donate the remaining 20% to GSGA, which has provided Calvin and Hobbes with so many greyhound friends in California. I pledge to make this donation in two payments -- 50% in 2017 and 50% in 2018 -- when I expect to be in a more stable work, home, and financial situation.
What your support buys:
A $10 donation buys a bag of treats
A $25 donation pays for monthly nail trims
A $50 donation buys a 30# bag of kibble
A $100 donation covers the cost of a basic vet visit
A $250 donation covers vaccinations and licenses renewals for one year
A $500 donation pays for a typical pet deposit at an apartment
A $750 donation pays for a month of dog walking
A $1,500 donation covers dental cleanings for Calvin and Hobbes
The link between violence against humans and animals is overwhelming. Research indicates that 48% of domestic violence survivors stay with their abusers because they fear what will happen to their pets (Carlisle-Frank, Frank, & Nielsen 2004). Unfortunately, in a home where abuse occurs, it is likely that pets will be part of the cycle of cruelty.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 71% of women experiencing domestic violence reported that their abusers had threatened, harmed, or even killed a family pet. In much the same way that children can be used as pawns, animals in volatile homes are often used as a way for the abuser to exert power and control. Fear for animals’ safety in abusive homes is a very real and important concern for survivors of domestic violence.
Our Story
When I chose to leave my boyfriend of 5 years last month, I finally had the strength and courage to leave an abusive relationship. Even though the choice between staying in an abusive relationship and becoming homeless was not easy, it was clear that leaving was my only option for survival. The hardest part of this transition is providing a stable environment for my retired racing greyhounds, Calvin and Hobbes. My boyfriend and I had adopted them together 3 years ago, and as their primary caregiver I knew that they had to come with me. I also feared my ex would retaliate against them.
Although I have somewhere safe to stay temporarily with my dogs through mid-January, I am looking to raise this money by February 1st, 2016 to be able to provide for them in an expensive city where it is near impossible to find housing that allows large dogs. No one should be forced to choose between her pets’ safety and her own. You can help provide us with the space to begin building a new life free from abuse.
I am asking you to chip in whatever you can to provide me with more options and make the complicated process of leaving an abusive relationship a little easier.
This would mean so much for me because Calvin and Hobbes have been my source of unconditional love and I have been so devoted to them and their well being in the three years that they have been a part of my family. As retired racing greyhounds, for the first years of their lives they were forced to run for sport so that other people could profit from their suffering. When we brought them home in 2012, I vowed I would go to any lengths never to let Calvin and Hobbes suffer like that again. Please help us make it through this difficult transition by contributing whatever you can.
Paying It Forward
I have been so grateful for all of the love and support that I have received during this tumultuous time. To help others in need, I pledge to making a matching donation to the two greyhound rescues that have made Calvin and Hobbes' home life possible: Greyhound Pets Inc (GPI) and Golden State Greyhound Association (GSGA). The work that they do improves the lives of so many animals and their owners. As a long-time volunteer for GPI, I witnessed the transformations that these loving dogs underwent when they were given a second chance at life. Everyone deserves a chance to love and be loved.
I will donate 100% of what I raise through this campaign. I will give 80% to GPI, which is where I adopted Calvin and Hobbes in 2012, and I will donate the remaining 20% to GSGA, which has provided Calvin and Hobbes with so many greyhound friends in California. I pledge to make this donation in two payments -- 50% in 2017 and 50% in 2018 -- when I expect to be in a more stable work, home, and financial situation.
What your support buys:
A $10 donation buys a bag of treats
A $25 donation pays for monthly nail trims
A $50 donation buys a 30# bag of kibble
A $100 donation covers the cost of a basic vet visit
A $250 donation covers vaccinations and licenses renewals for one year
A $500 donation pays for a typical pet deposit at an apartment
A $750 donation pays for a month of dog walking
A $1,500 donation covers dental cleanings for Calvin and Hobbes
Organizer
Patricia Decker
Organizer
San Francisco, CA