Serving battered women throughout Georgia
“Pets are often considered part of the family, and many batterers threaten, harm or even kill them to control and intimidate their victims,” says Brookhaven resident Shannon Oxford, program director at Ahimsa House (a Sanskrit word meaning non-violence).
The organization began in 2004 when founder Emily Christie lost her pet to domestic violence. “It’s Georgia’s only organization dedicated to helping human and animal victims escape together,” says Executive Director Myra Resnick. “We’ve provided 53,000 nights of free shelter for pets.” Animals are housed with a wide network of volunteers—individuals, veterinarians and boarding facilities. Shelters advise women where they can find a safe haven for their pets, and Ahimsa House helps victims find shelters for themselves and their children. Ninety-two percent of the pets are reunited with their owners when they move to permanent housing.
Ahimsa House’s annual fundraiser, the Walk, Wag, N’ Run 5K, took place Aug. 27 when participants ran through Lenox Park to raise money for the nonprofit. Look out for details about the Peachtree-qualifying race again in 2017.
For more information, visit ahimsahouse.org/walkwagnrun. For help, call the crisis line at 404.452.6248, which is open 24 hours a day.
BY: Mickey Goodman
