New Safe Haven Will be First of its Kind in Minnesota Metro

I discovered news of a new safe haven that's in the works right now in Minnesota that sounded amazing. When it opens, it will be the first of its kind in the Twin Cities area. And it sounds like it's a resource that's definitely needed.

I was surprised to hear that this would be the first one ever in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. It's also sad because of the statistics that I read which we'll get into in a little bit.

Before I move on, though, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. You can also text START to 88788.

A Home for Domestic Violence Victims and Their Pets

The place will be called Harriet's Pet Haven and it will be a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and their pets. Yes, we don't have a pet-friendly domestic violence shelter yet in the Twin Cities.

There is, however, one in St. Cloud! It's through Anna Marie's Alliance so if you need a safe space for you and your pet(s) before Harriet's Pet Haven opens, reach out to them!

For Harriet's Pet Haven, right now they're in the process of raising money to pay for the building of the shelter and also operation costs. You can get more information and donate if you're interested/able through Give MN.

As of writing this story, they've raised over $8,000, and their goal is to raise $50,000.

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Harriet's Pet Haven

Harriet's Pet Haven will be run through Tubman, which is a Minneapolis-based organization that "helps people of all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds who have experienced relationship violence, sexual exploitation, homelessness, mental and chemical health challenges, and other trauma."

The new haven will be able to house up to 8 dogs and 8 cats for up to 30 days to give their owner time to decide what's next and where to go.

They will also "provide round-the-clock monitoring, routine veterinary care, enrichment areas for families and pets to interact, and outdoor runs for exercise and relief."

Many Victims Don't Leave a Situation Because of Their Pets

I learned from the Give MN campaign that "nearly half of all domestic violence victims delay leaving because of fear of their pet’s safety, and nearly one-in-four return to an abusive situation."

That's so sad and scary. Of course, you don't want something to happen to your pet, but you also need to be able to take care of yourself. Which is why it's so important and so exciting that this new shelter is coming.

Again, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. You can also text START to 88788.