Turningpoint Sheltering Pets and Families Together

Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence (a.k.a. “Turningpoint”), a River Falls, Wisconsin-based, tax-exempt nonprofit organization that exists to provide support and resources to achieve freedom from domestic and sexual violence—requests funding for its Sheltering Pets and Families Program, the goal of which is to: • Provide emergency shelter for domestic violence victims and their pets (companion animals, service animals, and emotional support animals) on-site by renovating areas of Turningpoint's existing crisis shelter facility to become pet-inclusive. • Operate Turningpoint’s existing and planned services for shelter families to care for their pets, including providing support for veterinary services, pet food, and pet supplies; • Provide resources for pet boarding or fostering when having a pet remain on-site at Turningpoint’s crisis shelter is not a possibility; • Provide support services designed to enable persons who are fleeing a situation of domestic violence to locate and secure safe housing with their companion animal(s); • Provide safe accommodations for the companion animal(s); • Provide the victim with companion animal-related services, such as transportation, care services, and other assistance; • Provide training to relevant Turningpoint stakeholders within Pierce and St. Croix Counties of Wisconsin on the link between domestic violence and the abuse and neglect of companion animals; the needs of victims of domestic violence; best practices for providing support services to such victims; best practices for providing such victims with referrals to victims’ services; and the importance of confidentiality. This project will serve victims of domestic violence—individuals and families and their pets—within Turningpoint’s current service-delivery area of Pierce and St. Croix Counties of Wisconsin. Current committed project partners include Homestead Veterinary Clinic in Baldwin; and Paws and Claws Pet Resort in Hudson. We will also collaborate with area schools, law enforcement, service organizations, faith-based organizations, community groups, foundations, small businesses, and individual donors within Pierce and St. Croix Counties of Wisconsin. The total federal amount requested for the project is $400,000.