The Gary W. Rollins Foundation is the first investor in the program that will provide temporary pet housing for those in domestic abuse situations, hospitalized veterans, the homeless, and more.
Pets are family, and the Atlanta Humane Society will be able to launch its Pets in Crisis Support Program to support both pets and their people in times of crisis, thanks to a transformational gift from The Gary W. Rollins Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals and families who are forced to choose between their own needs and the well-being of their beloved pets during times of crisis.
The Pets in Crisis Support Program will support situations where people and their pets have been displaced due to evictions, hospitalization, domestic violence, natural disasters, or medical emergencies such as hospitalizations. It will offer the resources to bridge the gap between pet parents and the support they need during these challenging times. This generous gift from The Gary W. Rollins Foundation has provided a launch pad to begin formal work on the program and begin to build this much-needed service.
“We are honored to support the Atlanta Humane Society’s Pets in Crisis Support Program,” said Kathleen Rollins of The Gary W. Rollins Foundation. “Pets are cherished members of our families, and The Gary W. Rollins Foundation recognizes the critical need to help individuals and families facing crisis keep their pets close during these challenging times.”
This program comes in response to a pressing need in the community and across the state of Georgia. According to Ahimsa House, 52% of their clients report that the abuser threatened to hurt their pets, and 60% reported that their abuser did mistreat their pets in some way- with more than half delaying seeking safety out of concern for their pet’s safety if they were to leave them. And with rising evictions, almost eight million pets in the United States were estimated to face losing their homes in recent years.
“We believe that pets are family, and in times of crisis, no one should have to choose between their own safety and the well-being of their beloved animals,” said Cal Morgan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society. “Thanks to the generous support from The Gary W. Rollins Foundation, we are proud to launch our Pets In-Crisis Support Program. Our mission is to keep families together and provide the support needed for both pets and their people during their most challenging moments. We are committed to being a leader in the Southeast and to creating lasting change by working collaboratively with our partners.”
The Gary W. Rollins Foundation’s generous gift will enable the Atlanta Humane Society to collaborate with organizations like Ahimsa House, which focuses on pet fostering for domestic violence survivors, and Paws Between Homes, which provides pet fostering for individuals facing homelessness due to evictions, to increase capacity to care for animals in need. Additionally, Atlanta Humane will expand its foster family network to assist veterans with pets referred by social workers at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, providing temporary pet care during their treatment.