# Dogs Now Welcome at KC domestic violence shelter after dog saves woman from abuser **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 15, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571 "2012-01-15T04:29:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/1 "2012-01-15T04:29:42Z")
> [@](#): > > The Rose Brooks Center, a domestic violence shelter in Kansas City, Missouri, became the first shelter in the area to accept pets after receiving a desperate call from a woman whose boyfriend had attempted to beat her with a hammer, KCTV reported. > > The woman told emergency hotline operators that she escaped death only because her Great Dane had jumped on top of her and absorbed most of the blows. Undeterred, the boyfriend threw both the woman and her dog out a second-story window, and the two were seriously injured. > > She refused to accept a space at The Rose Brooks Center, however, when she learned that they didn’t accomodate pets. > > “She was not going to leave her pet alone with [the boyfriend],” Susan Miller, the Rose Brook Center’s chief executive officer, told KCTV. > > Miller explained that 40 percent of woman who call the shelter for accommodations turn down rooms because they don’t want to leave their pets, choosing instead to live in cars or stay in abusive situations. > **[Dog Shields Woman From Abusive Boyfriend](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dogs-welcome-at-domestic-violence-shelter_n_1204628)** > > Dog Shields Woman From Abusive Boyfriend I hope that more shelters follow this lead. I can understand how it could be an additional barrier to a woman leaving an abuser if she has pets that she is worried about and can’t bring them with her. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/2 "2012-01-15T04:47:34Z")
I never would have guessed the percentage of women refusing a place at the shelter for that particular reason was even close to that high. Kudos to Rose Brooks Center for adapting to fit the needs of those they wish to serve. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/3 "2012-01-15T05:48:08Z")
I guess it would be going too far to have the shelters teach the dogs to bite abusers in the crotch. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/4 "2012-01-15T11:07:17Z")
Wow, that’s awesome. I volunteer at a DV shelter. I haven’t heard of anyone asking if they can bring their dog (or other pet) into the shelter or expressing worry that they can’t. But I’m going to ask the staff if they have a plan for women who are concerned about their pet. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/5 "2012-01-15T13:04:13Z")
This is wonderful news! I hope many more shelters follow the lead. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/6 "2012-01-15T15:14:26Z")
I’d have to be in a great deal of danger to abandon my beagle. I’ve read accounts from depressed people that the one thing stopping them from a suicide attempt was the love they had for their pet. Pets rock. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/7 "2012-01-16T14:33:13Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I’ve read accounts from depressed people that the one thing stopping them from a suicide attempt was the love they had for their pet. Flip side, my uncle shot his dog first because he knew if he killed the dog he would never be able to live with himself. It worked. The dog was in the casket at the funeral, though I’m not sure if there were regulations or something that prevented them from being buried together. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/8 "2012-01-16T14:42:55Z")
In Ontario [Safepet](http://www.ovma.org/pet_owners/safepet.html) provides foster homes for DV victims. They keep the location of the pet and the identity of the owner a secret but the owners know the pet is safe and taken care of. It’s run by the veterinary association and the first two weeks of care are provided by a vet who ensures that the animal is healthy and vaccines are up to date. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/9 "2012-01-16T16:00:56Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I’d have to be in a great deal of danger to abandon my beagle. > > I’ve read accounts from depressed people that the one thing stopping them from a suicide attempt was the love they had for their pet. > > Pets rock. Many, many time they are all that has kept me around. Pets truly DO rock! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/10 "2012-01-16T18:04:31Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > In Ontario [Safepet](http://www.ovma.org/pet_owners/safepet.html) provides foster homes for DV victims. They keep the location of the pet and the identity of the owner a secret but the owners know the pet is safe and taken care of. > > It’s run by the veterinary association and the first two weeks of care are provided by a vet who ensures that the animal is healthy and vaccines are up to date. What a wonderful program :). ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-now-welcome-at-kc-domestic-violence-shelter-after-dog-saves-woman-from-abuser/609571/11 "2012-01-17T19:22:59Z")
Fairfax County, Virginia has had a similar program for about 5 years now. My dog Simone (accompanied by yours truly) has marched in all 5 awareness-raising **5k K-9 Krawls**. [link](http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/topics/091411k9krawl.htm) (Link goes to an official county gov’t site, sadly one without any pictures of Simone or me)