Isabella’s Pet Safe House

Words and Photos by Kate Flack

Article Category: Pet of the Month 1 Comment

Isabella, who goes primarily by “Bella,” is quite an extraordinary Yorkie. She closely follows in the footsteps of her mom, UCF’s sole Women’s Studies Professor Leandra “Leila” Preston, and takes the rights of her fellow canines quite seriously.

When she isn’t enjoying the view of the waves crashing along our coast from Leila’s beach cruiser basket — her favorite activity — or sharing her toys with the resident Doxie, Bella assists her mom with the duties of being the Space Coast area coordinator for PetSafeHouse.org. Even though Bella has spent all 10 years of her life lavished with Leila’s love in her own safe home, she’s socially conscious enough to know that not every woman, child or pet has it so easy. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website (www.ncadv.org), in the State of Florida alone, there were 115,170 reported cases of domestic violence and 164 domestic-violence related homicides in 2006. Surely there are pets involved in many of these instances. What happens to them?

Already advocates for women’s rights, Bella and Leila work closely with Brevard County Salvation Army, Brevard County Domestic Violence Task Force, and Serene Harbor — all local resources for battered women — and were recently inspired by People Magazine’s article on Christine Hartline who pioneered the Animal Safehouse Program in California a few years ago. The objective was to form a network of foster families that could provide shelter for pets of abused women while they went through rehabilitation. As you can imagine, leaving a pet behind may subject him or her to serious acts of rage in retaliation for a woman’s departure, which is where the program steps in. For the protection of the fostering family, all arrangements are kept private while the person(s) in need undergo reintroduction to society. Knowing their pets are in a safe houses makes this transition so much easier.

As a new initiative to our area, Bella and Leila are desperately in need of fosters and donations in order to help as many women and pets as possible.  For more information on the program, please visit www.petsafehouse.org where you can sign up to be a foster parent or visit Bella’s MySpace at www.myspace.com/safepets for program information specific to our area and to make online cash donations.  You may also email Leila Preston directly to volunteer at animalsafehouse@gmail.com or to arrange for supply donations.  Other items needed include, but are not limited to: crates, food, food bowls, collars, leashes, flea treatment, dog beds, pillows, veterinary care, etc.

Bella feels strongly that every beachside pet deserves the belly rubs, car rides, long walks and plenty of tasty treats she has always been accustomed to. Most importantly, she feels every pet deserves a comfortable and safe place to rest (something she rarely does). If you possess any of the resources to help Bella and Leila make this happen, please contact them through any of the means mentioned above.

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