Dismissed True Stories

Hope's 2nd Chance: Saving Pets From Domestic Violence

• The Survivor Sisterhood • Season 2 • Episode 15

Share episode

Send us a text

Haley McLean shares the story of Hope's Second Chance, Michigan's only animal sanctuary specifically created to help domestic violence survivors escape with their pets. She built this solution after seeing firsthand how survivors were forced to choose between safety and their animals.

• Founded during COVID when Haley realized shelters couldn't accommodate pets due to liability and space issues
• Pets often face abuse or are used as control mechanisms by abusers, making them overlooked victims
• Provides temporary housing for all kinds of animals while survivors establish safe living situations
• Animals receive veterinary care they've often been denied in abusive homes
• Pets frequently show trauma responses and PTSD symptoms from witnessing abuse
• The sanctuary provides a calm, stable environment with loving care for traumatized animals
• Average stays last about three months while survivors rebuild their lives
• Operates completely through volunteers with no paid staff
• Currently reopening after financial challenges and seeking foster homes
• Survivors consistently demonstrate incredible strength in rebuilding their lives

Visit Hope’s Second Chance to learn more about volunteering, fostering, or donating to help survivors and their pets escape domestic violence together.

Zoom link for Tala’s Q&A: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/U1HL5kOnQnuNw2lFSBwx9A

 📣 Helpful Facts

  • Nearly 50–70% of abuse survivors delay leaving if they can’t bring pets (Human Resources).
  • Studies show up to 90% of abusers threaten or hurt pets as a control tactic (banfieldfoundation.org).

🐾 National & Directory Resources

  • Safe Havens for Pets – A searchable national directory run by the Animal Welfare Institute to locate local programs that shelter pets of domestic violence victims (Animal Welfare Institute, Safe Havens for Pets).
  • Purina Purple Leash Project & RedRover – Grants and support to equip domestic violence shelters to take in survivors with pets; aims for 25% of U.S. shelters to be pet-friendly by 2025 (

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 OR text begin to 88788

Join the Sisterhood! The Survivor Sisterhood

Come join our community of survivors who are looking to meet someone just like you! See the behind the scenes work that goes into the sisterhood non-profit business, discuss DTS episodes, and of course find your survivor sister.

🔗 Follow Along:

Ready to share your story? Send me an email with the main talking points of your experience and I'll reach out to book an interview.

dismissedtruestories@thesurvivorsisterhood.com

Give DTS a 5 star rating! It helps this podcast reach other victims and survivors who NEED these stories! Help us find each other, help us heal, and help us find safety. Love you, mean it.

Speaker 1:

Hey, girl, welcome back to Dismissed True Stories. Dts is a podcast for survivors, by survivors, and here we don't just tell survivors stories to amplify voices, we also leave advice for victims who are still stuck in abuse to be able to escape to. And not only that, I break in with sidebar commentary that helps you decode and understand your own experiences in real time. If you're new here, hey, I'm Alyssa, and we hold space right here on DTS for the hard stuff, the healing stuff and everything in between. So on today's episode, this will be just a little bit different from our normal broadcast schedule, but it's really freaking cool and I know you'll love it.

Speaker 1:

Today I'm talking with Haley McLean. She's the founder of Hope's Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, the only domestic violence rescue operation of its kind right here in Michigan that helps survivors leave abuse without having to leave their pets behind. And here's what makes Haley so damn special. She's not a survivor of domestic violence herself. She didn't live through it. She didn't live through it, but she saw it. She walked into shelters while interviewing for jobs and saw the heartbreaking reality of survivors having to choose between safety and their animals. And instead of looking away, she did something. She built a solution. She filled a solution. She filled a gap. She created a soft landing for the most overlooked members of our families the ones with paws. In this episode, you'll hear how her work started during COVID and how it evolved into a full-blown sanctuary, and why she treats every pet like they're her own, with love, stability and a deep respect for the trauma that they carry too. This isn't just about animals, it's about humanity, and it's about what happens when someone chooses to stand in the gap, and not because they have to, but because they can.

Speaker 1:

Let's get into it. This really means a lot to me. I watched the video on your website. I cried a little bit because I was like, oh my God, this is just so beautiful. Like all the help that victims who are looking to leave can get. It's necessary. Thank you for what you do.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, it's um, it's been quite the learning experience. I get it that. That probably isn't easy either. Like just the paperwork that's involved in the beginning, that's a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was like that was so much. Luckily it was during COVID, so I had, you know, all the time in the world, you know, not going out anywhere, so might as well do paperwork. I think it's been such a learning experience on life in general and people in general and I somehow, like I sometimes have to catch myself and I tell my husband to like it's a good thing I didn't start hope second chance before I met him because I think I would have a really hard time like dating or, you know, doing relationships or anything, if I knew like how much is out there, how many bad not bad people, but like how many abusers are out there. And now you know, my life is kind of flooded with it. So I see it more than you, more than most. Yeah, I've learned a lot through that too and just like the strength of women or of survivors, it's been a life changer. It is. It's just one of those things that once you know, you can't not know, you can't look away, you can't pretend that it doesn't happen.

Speaker 1:

So so I'm Haley McLean. I have a huge passion for animals, always have. So I was interviewing at different jobs looking for a job in nonprofits. That's my background. I've always loved nonprofit organizations and volunteering.

Speaker 1:

I grew up volunteering with West Michigan therapy dogs and different organizations related around pets, of course, and so I was interviewing at some domestic violence shelters and you know, walking in their facilities and walking around and like, okay, some of these women have to have pets, like there has to be animals in some of these houses and so I would ask, like you have to ask a question or whatever, yeah, and I was like, what happens to these animals and they? You know, I had a couple different interviews and they kept telling me, like different things, but basically the liability that's involved, the allergies, because allergies, because they have, you know, many women in their houses and kids, um, so the liability of animals being around and is just too much of a risk they have. They're already full um, and to allow pets in and then deal with that extra space and, you know, all of those extra issues that go along with it, they just couldn't allow it. So they said a lot of them like and now you can hear my dog that's on, yeah, yes, so I they said that you know like a lot of them will either leave their pets behind um or they will bring them to a shelter where they may never see them again. Um, a lot of, you know, a lot of family ties are cut or friend ties are cut because of the abuser. So there's not much of a support system around that aspect and it's just been part of the course. I've talked to so many that you know they want to leave with their pets. They don't want to leave without them Because they know like their abuser most likely will harm those pets. To get them back there's just a huge need.

Speaker 1:

We're the only ones in the state of Michigan that really focus on the pets. We're also the only ones that focus on the survivor. So you know there's like the humane societies and stuff like that, but they focus on the pets and not on all the safety issues that come with that. We really want to make sure that the survivors we work with are as safe as possible. So we're so careful about where we meet them that no one's allowed on our property. You know all these different things. So we take that from the survivor side and then the pet side. You know we try and make these pets as comfortable as possible. We understand that they're coming from a home and they're going back to a home. So you know we make sure that their patterns are kept the same, their foods kept the same, all of that Because we look at it as like a boarding kind of thing, you know, we want them to be as comfortable as possible going back to their parents, their moms and children. So we kind of take both those aspects and so that's made us the only one in Michigan that really has this focus and really focus on the safety for everyone too. And it's, you know, transitioned along the way.

Speaker 1:

I've learned so much. Each time I work with a survivor I'm like OK, how can I make this better? Each time I worked with a pet, how can we make this better? How can we make this more comfortable? And it's been just a huge, huge process. We started in 2020 with paperwork and then 2021, we offered services for the first survivor in May, and then we were able to purchase a kennel and another barn like a cat barn, and so we kind of stayed open from there, built on, and then, two years ago I think, we basically ran out of money. It's super expensive.

Speaker 1:

One of the other things I hadn't really thought of before opening was almost all of these pets have not seen veterinar, um veterinarians, because a vet will also see abuse. So, um, a lot of them have not gone, or the abuser doesn't want to spend money on the pets, um, so it we've. We've spent a lot of money on um, spaying and neutering and all of the all of the um, medications and shots, the medications and shots and just the basic preventative care that they've never received, and I didn't think about that beforehand, so that was expensive. It's interesting that you say the basic care, because, as you're explaining this, I'm thinking, because, as you're explaining this, I'm thinking, wow, she's really going above and beyond. This isn't boarding. You could look at it as you're almost rehabilitating these pets as well. The survivors have to go. They're survivors as well. They have probably been in the same room when these situations are occurring.

Speaker 1:

Pets can absolutely have PTSD, and that makes me so sad that you ran out of money because, like you're, you're truly taking care of these animals Like they're your own. Yeah, we've. We've had a lot live in our house, much to my husband's unhappiness. House, much to my husband's unhappiness, yes, I. I hope that at least while they're here, I can provide some stability for these animals, because I know, like we've had a lot of survivors go back to their abusers. That's just, that's so common. So I know that sometimes these animals may go back to the chaos, and so I hope that while they're here they can have a happy life, that's even if it's just for a couple of weeks, like let's. You know, give them some love. They all want love. They're all such loving animals. They usually have been abused or they've been around it.

Speaker 1:

Most of the dogs have had horrible issues with my husband because he has the beard, he has the hat, sunglasses he wears all the time. You know he's a bigger guy, tall, it's just they see a man, and so it's kind of good to have him around too. He's not necessarily he doesn't love the big dogs and stuff like that. So I think it's a good learning experience for both the dogs and him. But it's so sad and I almost always use him as a test of like. Okay, if they're completely comfortable around him, then they most likely haven't seen as much of the abuse or and or been involved. But if they're uncomfortable, then I immediately know okay, I can't have many men around, I can't have, you know, them helping as much like I need to work more on these paths and just hoping that they get used to that too.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they, they tell you in the ways, in the ways that they can how many counties are you serving now in Michigan? So we started off like Midwest Michigan just because of our location. But when we have openings which, yeah, it depends and the story, it depends on that as well. But we have opened like to, I think, like 13 counties. We've served um all the way to the east side. Um, usually that involves them, like the survivor, traveling to the side for some reason family or whatever. But yeah, we kind of open based on what is what we have available. Okay, um, we only have five kennels, but you know, sometimes we've had a couple puppies come in or like really older old dogs in. Those can come in the house and stuff, depending on their attitude. So you know just what we need to allow. Yeah, it seems like you just you try to make it work, if you can try to make it work.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how do you feel that your mission, if it has, how do you feel like it's evolved since you've started? Yeah, you know that I think has pretty much stayed the same Through all of it. We have definitely started. I didn't realize how unique we were, but other than that, like we've really stuck to our mission, just just house pets temporarily so that the survivors can leave. There's so much more involved in that just because of each survivor being different, each circumstance being different, but we've really just we just want to help the survivors and their pets.

Speaker 1:

Can you walk me through the process of, let's say, you're a victim, you're looking to leave, maybe you found a safe place, but you cannot bring your pet. So how can you walk us through that process of what that victim could expect? We've been closed for like two years. We're reopening very soon, at least to cats, but basically, I mean, I've had people contacting me the whole time, unfortunately, but we just have a form on our website. Um, usually they reach out to me first and you know we talk through it. Um, it's okay, I like it. It just adds to the interview and that website is hopes, second chanceorg, second being um, the number two, nd, yes, nd, yep, um, so yeah, they can just. Usually they reach out to me first, um, and then I'll refer them to the website.

Speaker 1:

Um, we do get a lot of people calling for other circumstances. Um, we only help pets of domestic violence survivors, that's it. Because there is such a need, we can't help others. So I get a lot of calls and then I, you know, depending on all the circumstances, I'll send them to the website, fill out the form. We'll figure out a time to meet based on when they're leaving or what you know. Sometimes they're allowed to have the pets for a couple days and then they have to surrender them, um, so they sign over their pets to me, to a lot, well, to the organization, um, to allow us to do all the vetting and everything like that, um. But then they get the pets right back once they're ready. So it's all through lots of communication with them and me, um, throughout the time that the pets are here, I love to send pictures and updates, and you know all of that because I know it's such a struggle to trust a complete stranger with your animals.

Speaker 1:

So, yeah, it's really basic. We meet up, transfer the animal, they say goodbye and then I take them for however long is needed and as long as they're in communication with me, we hold the pet for them and give them back. We have had a few be surrendered or where the survivor kind of ghosts us, which then we have to find a new home. But yeah, other than that, it's super simple. We try to make it as flawless as possible so that this is one less thing they have to worry about? Yeah, so what does the vetting process look like for the survivor? Yeah, so it's basically just looking at why they need housing for the dogs or cats, um, and their location, um kind of thing, and we don't if or and like how we're going to be able to meet and stuff like that. Also, you know, the the idea is for three months. The average is three months. If they're looking at like, oh, it's going to be a year or something, we would just suggest that they, you know, do surrender them to a humane society or shelter rescue, because at that point that's not healthy for the animals either.

Speaker 1:

And since you've started, have you only taken dogs and cats or are you open to taking any kind of other pet? So we have only had cats and dogs, but we are able to take in any animal pretty much. I will not personally take care of, like lizards and snakes and stuff, but I do have volunteers. But pretty much any animal I've heard of, you know, like horses and stuff like that. We haven't had that need, but we are able to do that. That's incredible because I, even as a survivor of domestic violence, I've never owned a horse. I always wanted one. I was one of those girls asking for a pony or a horse when I was younger for my birthday. But you don't think about because I had two dogs when I left. But you don't think about those larger animals. If you are a horse owner, that's not something that you can just pick up and go. I'd honestly, had never even thought of that. And the fact that you're open to that that's incredible. We understand like you could have a connection with any I mean any of the animals and stuff like that, and an abuser can use any type of animal against the survivor. So we want to help with that. Our hope is that because we are able to let them escape with their animals, that they're more likely to not go back. Yes, multiple times, yes.

Speaker 1:

Do you work with any other like shelters or organizations, not just in Michigan but maybe across the nation, organizations, not just in Michigan but maybe across the nation? We work with pretty much all the local domestic violence shelters more on a referral basis. They you know, so they know about us, we know about them. That's kind of the connection we see there. We have been in contact with there's a large organization somewhat similar to us in Georgia, so we work with them, and then Red Rover in California. We've received one of their grants and stuff like that. Yeah, just kind of trying to share resources and stuff. It's been touch and go with, you know, georgia, just trying to reach out because this is my volunteer job, so you know timing and everything has definitely been a struggle to focus on this. But, yeah, there's a few that we work with, but it's tough to create something new, to create something new.

Speaker 1:

So I'm I'm wondering I was curious, um, as I was uh, doing some research on you, is there any sort of like database for services and organizations like yours where victims can look into? Um, just because I, this podcast is so, is there any type of database that you know of, I believe the national now I can't even think what it stands for National something of domestic violence survivors? Yes, they have some stuff like that, some lists. I know like a lot of those We've been found on Google. Um, that's kind of how some of our survivors we are not on any list because we are, when we're open, we fill up immediately, okay, um, just without advertising or anything but um, so I haven't had to really look into that, but I think, um, like I know that the state of Michigan has like domestic violence survivor lists and their resources, and then also, I think the national one does too.

Speaker 1:

Now you said that you would keep pets for like upwards to three months usually longer if, um, if a survivor needs to Yep, we've had dogs up to six months and she was contacting me once a week just letting me know she's still there, she's still working on it. We've also had a pit bull for a while and she was struggling to find housing because of it being a pit. So there's things like that as well. But, yeah, and we've had pets for like a week. So it just it really varies. Yeah, I mean it is.

Speaker 1:

It is difficult. I know that. When I finally found safety so just a little bit about me and my story I ended up leaving with just a laundry basket full of clothes and my toddler and my dogs and we were staying in my car for a while. And then I had found another single mom to move in with and we moved into her basement but she was not allowed to have pets on her property because she was renting, and so, luckily, my parents came and got my dogs, but I was working three jobs and I was not able to fully cut, just because I don't know if you know this, but 98% of abusive relationships also include financial abuse. So when I left, I left with over $10,000 in debt. So trying to get back onto my feet like that, working three jobs, it still took me a year to finally be able to afford my own apartment.

Speaker 1:

And I'm sure it's just case by case for you and getting to form a relationship with that survivor as well. Yeah, and it definitely too, depends on how the pets are doing. We've had some deteriorate a little bit and we can definitely see that. So if you know, if the dog was struggling and cats don't care as much, typical was struggling that would also be like, okay, you need to figure something else out because they can't be in this environment. So, yes, definitely case by case of what's going on and usually like, to some extent, at that point there's a connection made or something else where someone else is able to help and maybe let the pets live in a house somewhere, even if it's still not with their survivor. It's, you know, just a little bit better of a situation, because we do have and we do allow the pets inside, but also it is kennels. Um, it's, you know a heated, air conditioned barn and they have, you know, beds and all of that, but it is a kennel um with multiple dogs. So, um, some animals do struggle with that. So some animals do struggle with that.

Speaker 1:

My dog was one of the reasons that I finally woke up and said, ok, I got to go. There were many reasons and I think they all just kind of happened at once for me. So one of the things that I started doing before I left abuse was I decided I had to start listening to my inner voice and shutting out all the noise. And how I did that was I would take my dogs on a walk, no phone, every morning. And as I started to watch my girl her name's Kins just become so happy getting out of that house, she was validating for me Like it's not, it's not just me feeling this, and so now that I got her back, I see the same sort of symptoms in her as I do in me when it comes to, like, our healing process and having PTSD and being so scared in certain situations, and we've definitely helped each other heal.

Speaker 1:

Do you see something like that in other pets and how do you help them? Some of that is just providing as much love as we can, watching their behaviors, watching what's going on, showing them that they are in a safe space, um, that you know nothing's gonna happen to them here, um, and then slowly like trying to show them other people as well, um, and just the the love that others can provide and, um, trying to keep. You know we try and have music on in the kennels and just like a soothing I have all my dogs right here, it's okay A soothing environment as much as possible. We do a lot of like the calming diffusers and stuff like that to try and just make them feel safe in the moment. Unfortunately, you know, once they leave, there's not as much as I can provide with helping with that, but I hope that the survivor continues that and usually you know, like that's all they want. They love their pets. That's why they took them with them, so it's just hoping that they'll stay out of that situation again. Exactly, and a lot of the times, you know, our pets provide emotional support and safety for us as well. Again, a lot of them. I've talked to many survivors that have been like nope, my pets were not abused, and they, that pet is still like, so reactive. So, um, even if the pet hasn't been abused, they've seen the reaction of the survivor, um, and so you know, kind of getting that to calm down a little bit too, but they're feeling it, um, they're. When they see, you know, their mom get abused, they feel it too, um. So there's a lot of that as well, of just trying to understand, like, okay, they may not have been hurt, but they see it, they know that, they can feel it from the owners. So, yeah, yeah, what has been one of the most meaningful experiences that you've had through running the sanctuary.

Speaker 1:

I think it probably was my first survivor. She was coming from another state but she was moving into one of the counties we serve and, because she was the first, I didn't have any other pets. She had two pets and these dogs were incredible. They're massive. This one was a massive dog. They were the sweetest things. But I also, because it was just them, her and I met up quite a bit so she could see the dogs through the process and I learned so much from her I'm just talking to her and she was so strong and I learned, you know, like, um, her dad hadn't been the best and then every relationship she had had had all been abusive and you know just the the not realizing what, that there are good people, there are good guys out there and stuff like that. She was used to that abuse, um, and then how strong she was to completely leave. She moved to michigan to live with a friend. Like she didn't have family here, she didn't have anything, um, and she ended up buying a house and within the the few months that I had the dogs, she bought a house. She was working on adopting a couple kids that she had been living with and taking care of Um, and then to see her with the dogs once they came back, like it was just, it was so cool the dogs could have cared less that I was there, um, and that's some of it too. Like, I don't necessarily want a connection with the dogs. I try not to have that because it's, you know, bad on both our parts. But, um, they were just so happy to be with their mom and she was just so, so strong. So I really learned a lot from her and her dogs, so that was probably the best experience.

Speaker 1:

Mm-hmm, I know that you are getting ready to open. I've seen that you've been working on a different fundraising initiatives as well. But how can, if anybody feels called to, how can? Um, we help support your mission? Yeah, so our website provides all that information again, um, we would love fosters.

Speaker 1:

Again, we've struggled to find fosters because there are so many pets right now through all the humane societies and rescues that need fostering and I think the fosters are kind of few and far in between, and we need a very specific house because, you know, it can't be chaotic. A lot of these pets we don't know how they are with children Most children, most of them are really good, but, um, you know, we just want a very safe and quiet and comfortable place and, um, a lot of them haven't been around other pets. So, you know, there's just we need, we need, like the unicorn, fosters basically, and so fostering is great, volunteering is great, um, having people come out and help take care of the animals, even just to let them out and play with them. We just want them out of the kennels, so that's a huge thing. We have a fenced-in yard and stuff so that they can just play with them or hang out with the cats, it doesn't matter. We just want some love on these animals and then people can donate as well on the website. We have no staff. I'm volunteer, so it all goes to taking care of the animals.

Speaker 1:

What they would want a victim leaving domestic violence to know, like what would their one piece of advice be? So for you, what would you want them to know the most about, like what you offer and the process of leaving? I guess, like the first thing is just like they're so strong. I feel like they really don't see that a lot, and working with survivors, I've just realized how incredibly strong they are and just yeah, leaving in general is a huge, massive step and I hope that we can help them. I know, like locally, but I really hope that there's someone out there that's willing to help with pets and all of that, trying to make it so you don't have to go back.

Speaker 1:

Yeah Well, thank you so much for meeting with me today. Your mission and your support of victims and survivors really does change lives. Mission and your support of victims and survivors really does change lives, and I hope that you are able to celebrate yourself and sit in that for a little bit, because you really are saving lives more than just the person leaving, the ones who may be forgotten in the process as well. So thank you so much for what you do and for meeting with me today. Thank you, I do have a question for you. Yeah, so I have been listened to. You know all of the stories and stuff, but when are you going to share your story? Tomorrow, okay, yeah, Tomorrow.

Speaker 1:

I have been I don't know if you can see like I've been breaking out like crazy because I just I don't know like you know, like the body keeps the score, I guess, and so like having to write out the things that have happened and kind of recount these, these things, has really just kind of shown up on my face, which sucks. But also I'm ready to just like put it out into the world, into the wild and say, here it is, here you go. I kind of feel I do feel bad not sharing in the first season because I really wasn't sure I didn't get the full gravity and heaviness that comes with sharing a story. Um, I just wanted to give survivors a platform and then I was like, yeah, I, I should do this, I should do this too, like I asked these people to do this, so I should. And now I'm like, whoo, we need like a full self care routine that goes out the night before an interview for real, because that's thank you for asking that question. But yeah, it'll be tomorrow and I just did a poll on my social media of like, should I do them in one part or two parts, and unanimously two parts one? So it'll be a two part series Because I guess I don't want to throw too much at you at once. But yeah, I like hearing parts of your stories and stuff.

Speaker 1:

I wondered and then just yeah, what led you to this? I think that the biggest thing, um, and then just yeah, what led you to this? I think that the biggest thing, like the thing I always think about, is I would love for Hope's Second Chance to not exist. Like, I would absolutely love to figure out a way to stop this from happening. And I think you doing the stories is a really cool way to kind of look at that too. I don't know how much like research and stuff has been done, but like to look at the similarities, and you know all of that stuff through these stories, um, has been really, really interesting too. I I wondered about that with some of the things you've shared what your, what your story was. So I'm excited to listen to that.

Speaker 1:

Um, I think what you're doing is a really cool thing, um, and necessary. I know so many survivors, um, and a lot of them haven't shared their stories and don't like people don't know about it, um, that they've gone through that and it's like I said, it's such a they're so strong and people don't necessarily realize what they've been through and their strength that they have. So, um, yeah, it's a very cool series. Thank you, um. When people ask me like where should I start, I always say survival similarities. Um, just because it's a comp, it's a combination of every one of the stories from season one and I'm like that is the one I mean all of the stories, for sure. But, and I'm like that is the one I mean all of the stories for sure, but that's the one that gives me the most goosebumps because it really does help you understand that a lot of the times abuses textbook and that's been so interesting to like.

Speaker 1:

I was talking to my husband about it and I was like, okay, so do they? Do these individuals realize, like, what they're doing? Like I just I can't comprehend. Like, okay, so do these individuals realize what they're doing? I just can't comprehend. Do they realize that they're following this step by step. Basically, is this what they're trying to do? I don't know. I don't think that they do. I don't think that they do, I mean, unless they have been a perpetrator for years and years and have done this in multiple relationships. I don't think that they do. I think that it's just a certain type of person yeah, yeah, that's it. Yeah, because yeah, and then you think like, ok, they just got out of a bad relationship. Do they see what they did? And then are they going into the next one saying, hey, I'm going to change, and then they don't. I know, I just, I wish that, I know, I wish I could.

Speaker 1:

Sometimes I'm like, okay, to spend a day in your brain to try to figure it all out would be so exhausting, but at the same time, like, can I? Um, it would also be a terrifying place to be. But, yeah, I understand, I feel you. That is one thing that I think like, and that's one of the reasons why survivors stay or go back, is because they're trying to figure it out. Like, what is wrong? How can I help you? Like so many times. You know, we're such empathetic people that say hand me your burdens. Let me help you work through these, and that's one of the big reasons we stay Wanting to help them change, or they say they'll change and then don't Exactly. Well, thank you so much for being here today.

Speaker 1:

I would love to, as we've been talking, I would love to maybe, in our emails, schedule a time for me to just come out and check out Hope's Second Chance. I think it would be really cool. Maybe I could bring my son. He loves cats. Yeah, I would love to, if you're up for that. You know what's really crazy to be able to look back on how far I've come and to understand that at one point I was absolutely terrified to leave and wondering if I should leave my dogs behind, and you heard me speak about how Kinsley somehow, some way was able to get through to me and there were many factors that played a part in me finally walking away forever. But knowing that her purity and her innocence was something that I wanted to protect along with my child's, and knowing that there's places like Hope's Second Chance out there in the world, that means a lot and I want you to know that these resources out there are designated just for you, and there's many more like Hope's Second Chance. There are organizations across the country that will temporarily house your pets while you find safety, and some places will even help cover vet bills and provide emotional care for your animals, because, yes, they are survivors too. So I'll drop a list of resources in the show notes, so check there if that is something that you need, because your safety and theirs matter.

Speaker 1:

And speaking of resources, the grand opening of Tala's closet was so much bigger than I ever imagined. I dropped an episode on Tala's last week. If you want to listen the support, the turnout, the stories my heart is still catching up. I feel like it's a dream. I'm in awe, and now I've been bombarded, in the best way, with messages from people wanting to open closets, just like Talis, in their communities. I'm talking about Montana to Mexico, to the United Kingdom and even South Africa.

Speaker 1:

So I've decided to take the next few weeks off from podcasting to meet that need and to pour into this movement that is unfolding, unfolding. If you're one of the people who've reached out wanting to build something similar where you live, I'll be hosting an informational Zoom this Friday night at 8 pm Eastern, walking you through how we did it, what it took and what I've learned along the way. What I've learned along the way. The link will be in the show notes and, lastly, an update on Tala's story. The plea deal for her alleged abuser is scheduled for this week and right now I'm waiting, alongside her mother, connie, and the rest of her team, to find out whether we'll be moving forward with trial or not, and once we know more we'll decide on how to continue telling her story on this podcast. So for now, I'll speak to you again on August 22nd. Take care of yourselves, take care of your animals and remember the world is a better place because you are in it. Thank you.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Elissa

Host