Walking into the former First Avenue Jail in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, isn’t the experience one may have encountered 30 years ago. For starters, its residents have been replaced by dwellers of the four-legged, furry and even feathery kind.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, up to 48 percent of domestic violence victims do not leave their abuser because they are concerned about what will happen to their beloved pets.
It’s a unique situation: soldiers, deployed all over the globe, come across stray dogs. They form bonds with these animals, care for them, and connect with them. The dogs provide a major boost of morale.
At PetSmart Charities, we know the healing effect animals can have on people.
The case was tragic: The witness to a murder was the victim’s own little boy. Understandably, the child was in shock, barely able to tell the story that would bring justice for his mother.
An elderly veteran, at home alone, suddenly experienced a stroke. He fell to the floor, unable to speak and barely able to move. His cell phone was not nearby. He knew that if help didn’t come soon, he’d die.
PetSmart Charities believes in the power of animals to heal people’s hearts and the importance of giving back to the community.
Veterans face unique challenges once they return home. Often bearing mental and physical scars of their time in the armed forces, many need physical and emotional rehabilitation.
