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Haley McLean shares the story of Hope's Second Chance, Michigan's only animal sanctuary specifically created to help domestic violence survivors escape with their pets. She built this solution after seeing firsthand how survivors were forced to choose between safety and their animals.

• Founded during COVID when Haley realized shelters couldn't accommodate pets due to liability and space issues
• Pets often face abuse or are used as control mechanisms by abusers, making them overlooked victims
• Provides temporary housing for all kinds of animals while survivors establish safe living situations
• Animals receive veterinary care they've often been denied in abusive homes
• Pets frequently show trauma responses and PTSD symptoms from witnessing abuse
• The sanctuary provides a calm, stable environment with loving care for traumatized animals
• Average stays last about three months while survivors rebuild their lives
• Operates completely through volunteers with no paid staff
• Currently reopening after financial challenges and seeking foster homes
• Survivors consistently demonstrate incredible strength in rebuilding their lives

Visit Hope’s Second Chance to learn more about volunteering, fostering, or donating to help survivors and their pets escape domestic violence together.

Zoom link for Tala’s Q&A: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/U1HL5kOnQnuNw2lFSBwx9A

📣 Helpful Facts

• Nearly 50–70% of abuse survivors delay leaving if they can’t bring pets (Human Resources).
• Studies show up to 90% of abusers threaten or hurt pets as a control tactic (banfieldfoundation.org).

🐾 National & Directory Resources

• Safe Havens for Pets – A searchable national directory run by the Animal Welfare Institute to locate local programs that shelter pets of domestic violence victims (Animal Welfare Institute, Safe Havens for Pets).
• Purina Purple Leash Project & RedRover – Grants and support to equip domestic violence shelters to take in survivors with pets; aims for 25% of U.S. shelters to be pet-friendly by 2025 (

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 OR text begin to 88788

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