Updated Oct 2, 2012 - 7:11 am
New Valley homeless shelter takes in families, pets
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PHOENIX -- When the going gets really tough for Arizona families, many are forced to make difficult choices that have a tremendous impact on their pets.
"In the past, families would choose to not go into a shelter," said Ted Taylor, executive director of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a local non-profit organization that assists the homeless.
"They'd rather sleep in their car or under a bridge and keep their pet with them than to go into a shelter."
However, animals have also ended up in shelter when their owners lose their homes.
Now, families and their furry companions won't have to be separated. With a sizable donation, Family Promise has created the state's first emergency shelter for homeless families with pets.
"We anticipate serving 25 families with pets within the next 12 months, and our goal is to achieve a 70 percent success rate of graduating families into sustainable housing with their pets," said Taylor.
Sandra Haros , Reporter
