Every day, survivors of domestic violence face a heartbreaking choice:
Leave their abuser… or leave their pet behind.
At Praline’s Backyard Foundation, we exist to make sure that’s never a choice anyone has to make.
But we can’t do it alone. That’s why our boarding facility partners are the unsung heroes in our mission—giving survivors the confidence to say “I can go now… because I know my pet is safe.”
The Life-Saving Link Between Pets and Safety
Over 70% of domestic violence survivors report that their abuser threatened or harmed their pet. More than 50% delay leaving because they don’t have a safe place for their animals. The human-animal bond is powerful—and abusers know it.
That’s why boarding partners are not just pet care providers—they’re lifelines.
When a survivor contacts us for help, our first priority is to secure temporary boarding for their pet. We work fast—sometimes within hours—to find a facility near the survivor that can safely house their dog, cat, or companion animal.
This 7-day emergency window gives us just enough time to arrange a longer-term foster or alternative housing. But without a boarding partner ready to step in, that window often closes… and the survivor stays trapped.
A Real Story: From Panic to Peace
One of our survivors—let’s call her Maya—was ready to leave. But she couldn’t bring her senior dog to the domestic violence shelter.
“I told my advocate, I’ll stay one more night… I just need to figure out what to do with Lucky.”
Thanks to a local boarding facility that partners with us, we were able to house Lucky that same evening. Maya was able to get to safety, meet with legal aid, and start her healing journey—all because her dog was secure.
A week later, Lucky was transitioned to a loving foster, and Maya has since reunited with him in her new home.
That’s the power of a single kennel. A single ‘yes.’
That’s the impact our boarding partners make possible.
Why Boarding Facilities Are Critical to Our Mission
Our partner facilities provide more than temporary care—they provide:
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🕒 Immediate access for crisis situations
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🐶 Safe, trauma-informed handling of animals from stressed environments
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🧼 Clean, regulated spaces that meet health and safety standards
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🤝 Community connection that reminds survivors: they’re not alone
This model allows us to serve more survivors quickly—even when fosters are limited or unavailable.
Want to Help? Here’s How
We’re actively growing our boarding partner network across the U.S. If you work with—or know—a facility that:
✅ Cares deeply about animal welfare
✅ Wants to support survivors of domestic violence
✅ Can offer short-term emergency boarding (even just one kennel!)
Then we want to talk.
📩 Connect us with a boarding facility you trust
🤝 Sponsor a 7-day stay to help one more survivor escape safely
💜 Donate to support emergency housing, medical care, and transport
Your connections can literally change—and save—lives.
It Takes a Village
When someone leaves everything behind to escape abuse, they shouldn’t have to worry about their pet’s safety. Thanks to our boarding partners, they don’t have to.
Together, we’re building a future where every survivor can walk away with their dignity—and their best friend—intact.
