🐾Pets Are People Too

Because safety should never require leaving a loved one behind.

For survivors of domestic violence, pets are not “just animals.”

They are family.

They are comfort in chaos.

They are unconditional love during unimaginable fear.

Every year, survivors reach out to Iva’s Place Safe Haven Shelter ready to escape abuse — but many face a heartbreaking barrier:

They cannot bring their pets.

Because we are unable to house animals onsite, approximately 25% of survivors delay or decline shelter rather than leave their beloved animals behind. Abusers often threaten or harm pets as a way to maintain control, making this decision even more devastating.

No one should have to choose between safety and family.

💜About Iva’s Place

Since 1991, Iva’s Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has provided services, advocacy, and safe placement to victims of domestic violence across East Tennessee.

Our mission:

“To provide a comprehensive system of support to victims of domestic violence.”

We accomplish this through multi-level, trauma-informed care, including:

✔ Emergency placement through our Safe Haven Shelter

✔ 24-hour Crisis Hotline

✔ Crisis intervention and safety planning

✔ Legal advocacy and court accompaniment

✔ Transportation and medical advocacy

✔ Life-skills and educational classes

✔ Evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy

✔ Support groups for adult and child victims

✔ Educational programming for children

✔ Community referrals and outreach

Through our Transitional Housing Program, we provide up to 24 months of housing for families forced to relocate due to domestic violence — offering stability while they rebuild their lives.

For over three decades, Iva’s Place has walked alongside survivors as they move from crisis to confidence — helping them build brighter futures where their trauma does not, and will not ever, define them.

🐾 Why Pets Are People Too Matters

Yet even with all of these services, one barrier has continued to keep survivors trapped:

Their animals.

That’s why we created Pets Are People Too — a life-saving initiative that ensures survivors can escape abuse with their whole family.

Through partnerships with local veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, and compassionate foster families across East Tennessee, this program provides:

🐾 Safe, temporary boarding

🐾 Veterinary care and vaccinations

🐾 Foster homes when needed

🐾 Emergency medical support

While survivors focus on healing and rebuilding their lives, their animals are protected, cared for, and loved.

This program removes one of the most devastating obstacles to safety — and empowers survivors to seek help sooner.

🐾 Your Gift Makes This Possible

When you give to Pets Are People Too, you help:

✔ Remove a barrier that keeps survivors trapped

✔ Protect animals from harm

✔ Keep families together during crisis

✔ Expand access to safe shelter

✔ Give survivors the confidence to choose safety

Even a single boarding stay can mean the difference between remaining in danger and finding refuge.

Your support ensures that when someone says,

“I’m ready to leave,”

the answer is never,

“But you can’t bring your pet.”

At Iva’s Place, we believe healing begins when families feel whole.

By caring for the animals survivors love, we affirm a simple truth:

Pets are people too — and every family deserves safety, together.

💜Donate today and help protect every member of the family.

Iva’s Place - Pets Are People Too

Iva’s Place - Pets Are People Too; Because safety should never require leaving a loved one behind.