The why.

I’ll never forget the first time I watched someone surrender a pet they deeply loved. Not because they wanted to—but because they had no other choice. No housing. No resources. No safety net.

Why am I so committed to supporting people who are struggling with their pets?

Because I’ve met so many individuals navigating incredibly difficult circumstances—housing instability, financial crisis, personal loss—and through it all, they continue to love their pets with everything they have. Their lives would be immeasurably harder without those companions. And you know what? Their pets need them too.

If you have a pet, ask yourself:
Could you imagine giving them up—not because you wanted to, but because you had no other choice? Because you couldn’t find housing that allowed pets, or you couldn’t afford an unexpected expense? It’s heartbreaking. And it’s happening every day.

So how can we help?We can start by listening.

By honoring people’s experiences and trusting that they know their needs better than anyone else.
We can advocate for ways to keep families together—whether those family members have two legs or four, fur, feathers, or scales.

Sometimes, people do have to make the painful decision to rehome a beloved animal. When that happens, the most important thing we can offer is compassion. That may be one of the hardest choices they’ll ever face—and no one should have to do it alone or in shame.

In my work, I hold onto a few core values:
Be genuine.
Be curious.
And honor people’s truths, even when they’re different from your own.

Let’s look for ways to support each other—because the world already gives us enough to carry. I’ll be writing more about this journey of supporting both people and animals, and I hope you’ll follow along.