An Answer for Battered Women Afraid to Leave Their Pets | News

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Great Dane named J Matthew is the reason the Rose Brooks Center for Women is making room for eight new canine or feline residents, becoming the first domestic violence shelter in the Kansas City area to allow pets.

Susan Miller with Rose Brooks says building a pet shelter was important in order for women to not feel obligated to stay with their abuser for fear the pets they left behind would be in danger. J. Matthew helped speed up the process when he saved the life of a woman during a beating.

The dog “literally laid over her to protect her from the abuse that she was getting from her batterer,” Miller said. “He was hitting her with a hammer, kicking, punching. He saved her life.”

When word spread that Rose Brooks Center was making room for animals, contributions and letters of support came in from all over the country and even the world although the center still needs about $140,000 to complete the pet shelter and pay for pet food and medical care.

“I think people recognize pets are vulnerable just like family members and to provide the opportunity for the whole family to be safe is something everyone cherishes,” Miller said.

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