Reno's first shelter for pets of domestic violence victims celebrates ground-breaking
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Community groups broke ground on Thursday for Reno's first animal shelter exclusively for house pets rescued from homes experiencing domestic violence.
City and state officials, including Mayor Hillary Schieve and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, were on hand to celebrate the occasion.
The Committee to Aid Abused Women partnered with Noah's Animal House to open the new shelter on the CAAW campus.
The committee says threats against family pets are often part of domestic violence, and many victims choose not to leave their abusers because they don't want to leave a pet behind.
Organizers say Noah's Animal House would mean victims no longer have to make that choice.
The 1,300 square-foot shelter will be able to care for 36 pets at a time. It's expected to open later this year.
