For someone escaping domestic violence, the decision to leave is never simple.
For many survivors, one heartbreaking question stands in the way:
“What will happen to my pet?”
The Pet Retreat project at Women’s Services will provide safe, temporary accommodations for the dogs and cats of survivors staying at The Greenhouse Shelter. It will ensure that no one has to choose between their own safety and the companion they love.
A few years ago, a survivor we’ll call Jean came to us after making the hardest decision of her life. She had escaped abuse, but she couldn’t bring her cat.
That cat was more than a pet. It was her companion, her comfort, and one of the few constants in a life that no longer felt like her own. Her abuser knew exactly what the cat meant to her. The threats started almost immediately.
He told her he would kill the cat if she didn’t come home. She went back.
Later, after Women’s Services changed its policies and found ways to safely accommodate pets within the existing shelter, staff reached out to Jean and invited her to return — with her cat.
She came back. She stayed. Today, both Jean and her cat are safe. Jean’s story is powerful because it isn’t unique. Every year, survivors face the same impossible choice. We want to make sure they never have to make it again.
For many people, a pet is family. Unfortunately, abusers know that too. Threatening, harming, or withholding a beloved animal is another way abusive partners maintain control and keep someone from leaving.
Research shows that nearly half of survivors with pets delay leaving — or return to an abusive home — because they fear what will happen to their animals.
At the same time, fewer than 20% of domestic violence shelters nationwide are able to accommodate pets.
Pennsylvania has recognized the important role companion animals play in a survivor’s safety plan. Now, it’s time for our shelter to continue evolving as well.
The Pet Retreat isn’t a luxury. It’s a refuge. It will provide safe, temporary accommodations for companion animals while their owners begin rebuilding their lives.
The project includes:
Planning and design are already complete thanks to the guidance of RedRover and Don’t Forget the Pets.
Now it’s time to bring the project to life.
This project is about much more than creating space for animals. It’s about removing one more barrier that keeps survivors from reaching out for help.
Every feature has been thoughtfully designed to make it easier for someone to choose safety, knowing their beloved companion can come too. Because healing is easier when families can stay together.
The Pet Retreat is a long-term project that will serve survivors and their pets for years to come. Every step brings us closer to making this vision a reality.
Planning & Design
Complete
Community
Campaign Underway
Engineering
Construction
Begins
Pet Retreat Opens
The Pet Retreat is a multi-year project, and we’d love to share the journey with you. Sign up to receive occasional updates about the project, construction milestones, and the impact your community is making for survivors and their pets.
No one should have to choose between escaping abuse and protecting the companion they love. Together, we can help ensure that when someone reaches out for safety, every member of the family has a safe place to go.
August 19 – 21, 2026.