At YWCA Spokane, we believe that no one should have to choose between their safety and the safety of their beloved pet. That’s why our domestic violence safe shelter welcomes survivors and their animals—of all kinds—when they are escaping abuse. Thanks to a remarkable and compassionate partnership with NewTech Prep’s veterinary assisting school, survivors and their pets receive even more care, comfort, and dignity during a difficult time.

A Special Drive Held by Students each Spring

For the last four years, students in the veterinary assisting program at NewTech Prep have led an annual donation drive to support the pets who arrive at our shelter alongside their families. This unique effort, launched each February and March, gathers in-kind donations such as pet crates, gates, bedding, toys, leashes, bowls, and other essential items for animals of every shape and size—not just cats and dogs.

Kim Leads the Way For Her Students to Make a Difference

The heart behind this project is Kim Coleman, an instructor at NewTech Prep and a survivor of domestic violence herself. After learning about the Purple Leash Project by Purina, Kim felt moved to find a way for her students to give back locally. She reached out to YWCA Spokane and was inspired by our commitment to sheltering survivors and their pets. Many survivors see their pets as family, and to leave them behind would put them in harm’s way. As Kim shared, “One of the reasons I didn’t leave my abuser initially was because of my pets. I wouldn’t leave them behind.”

Understanding just how critical pet safety is in the decision to leave an abusive partner, Kim built a project that now ripples through the entire veterinary community in Spokane.

The Power of Service

Each year, her students create outreach materials and connect with over 48 veterinary clinics, pet stores, groomers, and boutiques across the city. These students not only learn professional skills—they learn the power of service and advocacy. They collect, organize, and deliver every donated item to YWCA Spokane’s shelter, making a tangible impact on the lives of people they may never meet.

Raising Funds as well as Pet Supplies

Beyond collecting supplies, the students and veterinary community also raise financial donations through a special account created in partnership with a local veterinarian. These funds help survivors pay for veterinary care when they’re most in need. For families who may flee with little to no resources, this financial support can make all the difference in helping their pet get the care they deserve.

Kim reflected on the meaning of the drive for her and her students:

“I believe in our fundraiser for the YWCA due to its incredible value to our community of domestic violence survivors, their pets, and my students. Members of the veterinary community are truly compassionate people, and this is one way we can help someone and their pet that we may not otherwise ever meet. For me, I must take my past experiences and merge those with my current careers and passions to ensure there is a way to help those in need.”

Thank you to Kim, her Students, and our Community

YWCA Spokane is deeply grateful for this partnership. Thanks to Kim, her students, and the many vet clinics and pet lovers involved, helping survivors and their pets feel welcomed, supported, and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors. In a time filled with uncertainty, this community effort provides peace of mind, helping survivors take one more step forward with their whole family—including the four-legged ones—by their side.

Learn more about our commitment to pets at our shelter. 

Interested in supporting pets at our shelter?

Contact us at connect@ywcaspokane.org to learn about in-kind donations, or make a financial gift today.