Building a Community, Not Just a Career

The following is an excerpt from Groomers Doing Good Deeds: Building a Community, Not Just a Career by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins in the November 2024 issue of Groomer to Groomer magazine.

In May 2009, Doorways became the first safe house in Virginia, and one of only nine in the country at that time to provide emergency shelter for survivors’ pets. Thankfully, more are opening now, as the importance of this expanded role of shelters has become apparent.

Linley Beckbridge explained the importance of allowing the victims to bring their pets: “Often, people who perpetrate intimate partner violence will threaten or harm pets to maintain power and control over their partners. Victims may stay in abusive situations in an attempt to keep their animals safe. Providing emergency shelter for pets, along with survivors, is critical to the safety of both the animals and their people. No one should have to choose between their safety and their pets.

“The grooming industry can support their local shelters,” she continued, “most of which are nonprofit organizations, by donating their services—either directly for survivors’ pets or in the form of gift certificates for nonprofit auctions and other fundraisers—by doing third-party fundraisers to encourage their customers and community to give, and by raising awareness of local resources by posting flyers in their spaces. To support national efforts, check out the Purple Leash Project.”