Homeless with Pets After a House Fire

The emergency boarding program at UVHS began as a partnership to provide temporary housing for the pets of people experiencing domestic violence. The program has expanded to serve dogs, cats, and rabbits of families experiencing other crises such as hospitalizations and homelessness. 

In 2019, 24 animals were part of our emergency boarding program for families in crisis. This consisted of 14 cats and 10 dogs who typically stayed 30 days. This totaled to 720 shelter nights or roughly 2 animals per day year-round.

It seems that about once a year, we provide a safe haven for one or more pets from a house fire. 

No pet should lose their family due to a temporary crisis.

Imagine, if you can, the terror and heartbreak of watching your home burn with your pets caught inside. For most of us, it is one of our worst nightmares. It is simply beyond comprehension. But for one Upper Valley family, it was reality.

This summer, they watched, shocked and horrified, as their house burned with their beloved cat, Myra, inside.

Once the fire was extinguished, they were even more shocked to find Myra covered in soot and shaken, but alive!

Their joy was only dampened by the fact they had no place go that would welcome their furry family member. While their home was being gutted and cleaned, they were staying at a hotel that didn’t allow pets.

UVHS was more than happy to look after this sweet senior cat. Myra was with us for a whole month.

Although Myra was confused about being separated from her family, she was well loved by our team. She even had a large, newly renovated space, due in part to a grant from PetSmart Charities that turned unused offices into housing for pets in the Emergency Boarding program.

It is because of organizations like PetSmart Charities and caring people like you that UVHS can offer this and other programs providing food, love, and vaccinations to pets in NH & VT.