07/09/2025
Many women stay in abusive situations because they have no safe place to take their pets, but Safe Haven for Pets, a partnership between MSU CVM and Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter in Meridian, is changing that.
The program began in the mid-90s when Dr. Sharon Grace, then a private practitioner and since a longtime member of the CVM faculty, treated an abused kitten brought in by a kind neighbor. The heartbreak of that case never left her, and she was encouraged to “rewrite the ending” by helping animals in crisis. That moment planted the seed for Safe Haven.
This summer, we quietly celebrated a milestone: the admission of the 250th animal into the program. Three dogs from the same household entered just this week.
To date, Safe Haven has provided over 8,300 days of individualized veterinary care and boarding, including nearly 5,000 days in just the past five years.
For the safety of those in the program, specific details, like partner shelters and most veterinarians, are always kept confidential. But behind the scenes, this program is active, impactful, and changing lives every day.
Safe pets mean safer people. And at MSU CVM, we’re proud to be part of that solution.
