Animals can become victims when their humans are victims of violence

Here at the shelter we are very versed in handling pets that have been the victims of abuse and neglect. Through the years we’ve seen animals that have suffered everything from cruel abandonment to outright torture.

At this moment, we are dealing with some dogs that are victims of a different sort. They are the pets of people whose lives have been snuffed out or horribly altered by violence. A drive by shooting, a murder/suicide, a domestic altercation resulting in serious injury; all leaving innocent pets homeless in their wake. It’s rather scary. It feels as though we are a facility located in some big city where these things occur with deeply disturbing regularity. 

It’s hard to know the depths of the fear and confusion that these animals must be going through. One minute they are with their families and the next there are loud sirens, uniformed people in their homes, emergency medical technician’s touching their owner. Then, the animal control officer comes to remove them from their home. After a car ride in a crate in the back of a strange vehicle with unfamiliar smells, they are dropped off at the shelter, where they have to endure yet another round of the unknown.