Women’s Center protects furry friends
MARQUETTE — Marquette’s Women’s Center has partnered with Northern Michigan University and the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter to help victims of domestic violence.
The Sasawin Project provides pet foster care for women who use the shelter and the Women’s Center and UPAWS find safe, temporary housing for pets.
Pets can often be used as pawns in domestic violence situations; the women’s center wants to help protect furry family members.
“They’re often used in controlling the women that come into the shelter. So we want to find a safe place for this pet while they’re in our shelter, so that when they do leave the shelter, they can find safe affordable housing and take their pets back, and the pet will have a permanent home and stay with their owners,” Cindi DePetro, Office Coordinator, Women’s Center.
The project, veterinary care and pet food is funded through grants the shelter can apply for.
The name Sasawin comes from the ojibway language, meaning “nesting.”