YWCA staff and friends celebrate the one-year birthday of the YWCA’s pet shelter. Abbie’s Safe Home makes it possible for ALL members of the family to stay together and be safe and heal on the campus of our Weaver Domestic Violence Center.
The largest emergency pet shelter for victims of domestic violence in Tennessee celebrated its first birthday recently. Abbie’s Safe Home, located on the campus of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee’s Weaver Domestic Violence Center, is dedicated to keeping all members of the family together and safe. Since opening its many kennel doors on August 24, 2021, Abbie’s has provided nearly 1,300 nights of safety to the four-legged family members of domestic violence victims. Community leaders, including Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, staff, and supporters gathered to recognize the program’s first birthday.
“Abbie’s Safe Home has been a dream come true to the women and families who are trying to escape violent homes,” said Sharon K. Roberson, president/CEO of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. “We see every day the impact that our pet shelter is having on those who turn to us for help. Every single pet parent survivor has told us she would have stayed with her abuser had it not been for Abbie’s Safe Home.”
The WCA spent several years planning for this important expansion on the Weaver Center campus. Volunteer and past board member Gail Alexander helped lead this effort and made significant investments in the project. Abbie’s Safe Home is named in her late mother’s honor. YWCA received support from individual donors, corporations, including Amazon and the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Local and national foundations and nonprofits, include: Be Like Henry, Dugas Family Foundation, and RedRover.
The 800-square foot facility can house up to eight dogs and six cats at a time. It offers two large, fenced-in play yards, high quality steel kennels, an isolation room (to verify vaccinations and pet health), and vet services. In the past year, Abbie’s Safe Home has helped and healed 34 dogs and three cats. In honor of Abbie’s 1st birthday, YWCA is holding an online fundraiser where gifts can be donated to support this life-saving work. Visit <www.ywcanashville.com/ashbirthday> for more information or to make a contribution.
YWCA’s Weaver Center provided over 13,200 nights of safety to 400 survivors fleeing abuse last year and responded to more than 4,700 crisis calls and texts. You can learn more about Abbie’s Safe Home and YWCA’s Domestic Violence Services and the Weaver Center at <wcanashville.com/domestic-violence/pets/>.
