Editorial: The essential role of pets

Sunday, June 18, 2006 | 7:41 a.m.

For the love of a pet, victims of domestic violence often remain in their abusive situations, even though area shelters offer a safe refuge. Many victims have children and would not dream of leaving home without them. But they fear the children would become emotionally distressed beyond consolation if forced to leave their loyal and affectionate pet behind.

Also, many victims fear that if they move out and into a shelter, their dog or cat left behind will be abused.

The Shade Tree domestic violence center in Las Vegas has long understood this dilemma. Two years ago it recruited volunteers to open their homes to victims' pets and provide foster care for them until they could rejoin their families.

The Humane Society of the United States has also recognized this bond between domestic violence victims and their animals. It advises victims that they should, in advance of leaving, arrange for emergency shelter for their pets, and establish their ownership by ensuring that their names are on all of the animals' licensing and veterinary paperwork.

The Shade Tree's foster-pet service offered a faster alternative for many victims. Now it has gone even further. Construction began last week on a building - right on the Shade Tree campus - that will comfortably house the victims' pets. The building, Noah's Animal House, is scheduled to open within four months.

A driving force behind the pet shelter is Staci Columbo, a member of Shade Tree's board and vice president of marketing and advertising for Station Casinos. "Women would arrive at Shade Tree, but when they learned they couldn't bring their pets in with them, they'd go right back out the door," Columbo told the Sun.

She leads a fundraising drive for Noah's Animal House that has collected $500,000 so far, enough to build the shelter and operate it for the next two years. At a fundraiser a year ago, Columbo said, "I'm convinced that Noah's Animal House will save lives."

We believe that, too. Columbo and everyone else involved with Noah's Animal House are enabling better lives for many people - and animals.