Reno, Nev. – At its annual fundraiser on October 29, the Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW) and Noah’s Animal House (NAH) announced that the two nonprofit organizations are in the early planning stages of building a full-service pet shelter at the site of CAAW’s newest transitional housing facility in Reno.
NAH currently has one pet shelter located next to The Shade Tree women’s shelter in Las Vegas. Noah’s Las Vegas provides food, shelter and veterinary services for the pets of the survivors of domestic violence that are residing at The Shade Tree.
CAAW’s new transitional housing facility, which will also be the site of the new NAH shelter, is currently undergoing renovations and is expected to be fully operational and move-in ready in the spring of 2016. It will be CAAW’s second transitional facility and will triple the organization’s capacity to provide longer-term housing for its clients..
CAAW and NAH expect to break ground on and open the new pet shelter, known as Noah’s Reno, in 2016. Noah’s Reno will be a sanctuary for the pets of CAAW’s emergency shelter and transitional housing residents.
Noah’s Las Vegas was the first stand-alone shelter in the country dedicated to keeping the entire family united as they transition out of an abusive situation. NAH was founded by Staci Alonso to eliminate one barrier of leaving an abusive relationship and ensure that pets can remain with the families who have fled from a domestic violence situation. In a national survey, 85 percent of women seeking safety in a domestic violence shelter reported pet abuse in their home and more than 25 percent delayed leaving because they did not have an escape plan that could include their pets.
CAAW executive director, Denise Yoxsimer, says that CAAW’s staff sees the reality of these statistics in their work with women and families here in northern Nevada:
“We know that having pets at home and not being able to bring them with you is a huge barrier for families who are trying to leave abusive relationships. This is a service we have been asked for by our clients for many years, and we are so excited to partner with Noah’s Animal House to make it a reality.”