ow does one go from being a lifelong victim of abuse to an advocate for victims of domestic violence and the 2022 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse of the Year? It’s a journey that I could not have made without amazing friends, terrible experiences and good grace…lots and lots of good grace.

Suffice to say, I was a victim of domestic violence for most of my life. My last experience, only ending in 2016, prompted me to become a staunch advocate for other victims. My journey began as a volunteer for Crisis Center North, a domestic violence organization in Pittsburgh, PA, on the first PAWS for Empowerment committee, with the goal of putting animals into a position of healing and strength for victims.

Since the inception of the program in 2011, CCN has had three Canine Advocates which accompany Legal Advocates to court to assist DV victims and attend counseling sessions. My current partner, Rune, is my fifth generation of Rebellion Labrador Retrievers, and has been working in her role as a Canine Advocate in court since she was 12 weeks old. Penny was our first Canine Advocate at 12 years old and our other working dog is Ari.

From talking to victims, we at Crisis Center North knew that many were refusing to leave their situation because of their pets, as shelters and temporary housing rarely allow animals. With little resources when they flee, victims could not afford higher-priced, pet-friendly housing. To assist with this, the PAWS for Empowerment program applied for, and was awarded, one of five OVC Federal Grants to help victims who are fleeing with their pets. Emergency hotels, temporary housing, boarding, veterinary care and tangible goods are all things that we can provide to victims who need to leave but can’t bear the thought of leaving their best friends behind.

However, that wasn’t enough, as pets are victims of domestic violence, too. And since veterinarians are most likely to see pet neglect and abuse, it became obvious that the veterinary community was part of the systemic change we sought to make. As an integral part of every community, veterinarians and their staff are very familiar with their clients. So, if we could educate them about the intersectionality between animal neglect/abuse and domestic violence, we could save more victims and their pets. Thus, the position of Canine Intervention Specialist at Crisis Center North was born.

Holding this role since 2018, I create presentations and visit veterinary offices and veterinary technician schools to educate veterinary professionals on the connection of animal neglect/abuse and domestic violence. I have also had the honor of presenting at the AVMA National Conference in Philadelphia in July of 2022. Connecting with veterinarians has brought me back to my original purpose as a Certified Vet Tech—to help people and their pets. My hard work has paid off, as I was selected as the 2022 Hero Veterinary Nurse of the Year!

It all began in 2011 with a little spaniel mix named Penny who insisted on helping a young boy attend his counseling sessions. To date, Crisis Center North has directly assisted hundreds of victims of domestic violence and their pets with veterinary stipends, tangible goods, gift cards, transportation, emergency housing and long-term housing. In addition, our Canine Advocates support victims in court and in counseling. We are always innovating new ways that we can assist victims of domestic violence and their families, and hope that we can continue our work for many years to come.