A Safe Place for Pets, a Path Forward for Their People: The Culler Pet Resource Center Renovation

For someone facing domestic violence, concern for a beloved pet can make an already difficult decision even harder. Leaving may mean uncertainty about where their animal will stay, who will care for them, and whether they will be safe.

This October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Halifax Humane Society partnered with Greater Good Charities to help address that concern. Over two weeks, a former boarding kennel at our Culler Pet Resource Center was transformed into a dedicated crisis pet housing space.

Through our Pet Safe program, the renovated facility will provide temporary care for pets whose families are experiencing domestic violence, medical emergencies, and other crises. It gives families a place to turn when they need help caring for an animal while taking care of their own safety and well-being.

Two Weeks of Work With a Lasting Purpose

Greater Good Charities led the renovation, bringing together volunteers who gave their time and energy to improve the space. Halifax Humane Society volunteers worked alongside visiting volunteers, including international volunteers from Mars, Incorporated, to help bring the project to life.

Some picked up paintbrushes. Others worked with power tools or helped with the many tasks needed to turn a boarding facility into a space designed for crisis care. Volunteers did not need construction experience to contribute. Their willingness to learn, work together, and lend a hand helped make the transformation possible.

For our team, watching the progress each day was remarkable. Rooms, kennels, and outdoor areas began taking on new life, with every improvement serving a practical purpose for the pets and people who will rely on them.

The project included:

• Kennel improvements to support the animals staying in our care.
• Dedicated dog and cat visitation rooms where families can spend time with their pets.
• Play yard upgrades, including turf, fencing, and shade.
• Fresh paint and signage to help create a welcoming, organized environment.

Together, these changes support both daily animal care and the connection between pets and their families during a difficult separation.

Supporting Families Through Pet Safe

Through our partnership with the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County, Halifax Humane Society provides temporary care for pets whose families are navigating domestic violence.

For someone preparing to leave an unsafe situation, knowing their pet has somewhere to go can help remove a barrier to seeking safety. A beloved animal may be a source of comfort and stability during an otherwise uncertain time. Having access to temporary care means that person can take their next steps knowing their companion is being looked after.

The renovated Culler Pet Resource Center will also support pets whose families are facing medical emergencies and other hard circumstances. When a crisis interrupts someone’s ability to care for their animal, temporary housing can provide support while they work toward stability.

The visitation rooms are a meaningful part of that purpose. They create space for families to spend time together while their pets remain in temporary care, helping preserve a relationship that matters deeply to both.

This is what championing pets and empowering their people looks like in practice: recognizing that an animal’s well-being is closely connected to the circumstances of the person who loves them.

Thank You to Everyone Who Made This Possible

To Greater Good Charities, thank you for leading this renovation and dedicating two weeks of hard work to our campus. We are amazed by the difference you have made at the Culler Pet Resource Center and grateful for your commitment to the families this space will serve.

To RedRover, thank you for bringing the “Don’t Forget the Pets” workshop to Daytona Beach and helping our community better understand how to support people and pets in crisis.

To the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County, thank you for your ongoing partnership, your advocacy, and the work you do every day for survivors and their families.

To the Mars, Incorporated volunteers, thank you for traveling to lend your time and skills to this project. Working alongside you was an honor.

And to our Halifax Humane Society volunteers and every person who contributed, thank you for every brushstroke, repair, and hour of effort. Your work has helped create a place where pets can receive care and their families can find reassurance during an incredibly difficult time.

Better Together means bringing our different skills and resources to a shared need. Over these two weeks, we saw that commitment in action. The result is a renewed space with an important purpose: helping people move toward safety and stability while knowing the pets they love have a safe place to stay.

Watch the video for a closer look at the Culler Pet Resource Center renovation.