Pound Pup Legacy

SAFE began with a simple conversation in a veterinarian’s office, between family law attorney Leslie Gentile and her veterinarian, James Prueter, DVM. Leslie was saddened and frustrated by a recent case in which a client had left her home because of domestic violence. Unfortunately, the abuser had taken out his anger on the woman’s animal, who had been left behind. The telling of this story—and the venting of Leslie’s sadness and frustration—planted the seeds for the founding of Safety for Animals and Families in Emergencies (SAFE).

A Problem Examined

As the two friends conversed, they acknowledged some sad truths about a growing problem. They talked about the fact that many women who need to leave their homes (often in a hurry) don’t have the kind of support system that includes family and friends who can (or will) care for a pet. They discussed the lack of facilities to house animals in domestic violence shelters. Finally, they expressed their disdain at the knowledge that animals often become pawns in the cycle of domestic violence, with abusers threatening—and frequently carrying out—acts of abuse against beloved pets in order to intimidate and control the people who love them.

A Seed Planted

Most people would have simply acknowledged the problem and walked away, saddened by the knowledge that people are capable of such cruelty, and frustrated by the seeming inability to bring about change when faced with such a complex, multifaceted problem. But on that day a commitment was made—a commitment to meet an urgent and yet-unmet need in our community.

SAFE’s Beginnings

What was needed, it seemed, was an organization of caring, capable, knowledgeable individuals—representatives from the legal profession (specifically, family law), domestic violence shelters and animal welfare organizations, and other concerned individuals who would be willing to devote their time and energy to this multifaceted, complex problem. It was soon determined that SAFE also would need the support of other caring individuals who would be willing to provide foster homes for the animals entrusted to the organization's care.

Today, SAFE’s all-volunteer Board of Trustees is made up of caring, compassionate individuals with expertise in a range of areas related to domestic violence, animal welfare and rescue, family law, and veterinary medicine. Each of these people works tirelessly toward SAFE’s goal—to ensure that no animal will be left behind in danger.