Fund Helps Peppa Reunite with Family for the Holidays

More than a year ago, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals learned about Peppa, a young polka-dotted Chihuahua whose family was fleeing domestic violence. The mom and young children were desperate to keep their beloved dog. With nowhere to go with Peppa, they initially tried hiding her in a car near the emergency shelter where they were staying. As it got colder, however, the family grew worried and reached out to our Helping Pets and People in Crisis program. We helped immediately with vet care and a foster home for Peppa, and then we linked the entire family to Urban Resource Institute’s URIPALS program, the first co-sheltering program in our city. In February, the family moved to a URI emergency shelter, and Peppa was celebrated as the first URIPALS dog.

Sadly, when their time at the emergency shelter ended, they still didn’t have permanent housing, so the family was transferred to another facility that didn’t allow animals. We stepped in again at that point, offering brief foster care for Peppa until a long-term foster home was secured through the ASPCA.

This week we learned the great news that the family had found permanent, pet-friendly housing, but they faced one more hurdle: they did not have funds to pay the pet deposit. Through our Marion Dougherty Safe Haven Fund, the Alliance provided a check so the family could reunite and be together in their new home.

Congratulations, Peppa and family! We wish you a wonderful holiday together.

Help other pets and people like Peppa and her family by making a tax-deductible donation to the Marion Dougherty Safe Haven Fund: http://bit.ly/GiveMDSHF