Keeping People and Pets Safe, Connected, and Together.
For Life!
Compassion, expertise, and innovation helps preserve the Human-Animal Bond.
The Arizona Coalition for People and Pets (AZCPP)1 and BestyBnB are revolutionizing the animal welfare industry by cultivating a movement to unite human and animal welfare agencies across the country.
The collaboration, called Home Away from Harm (HAFH) was created to remove barriers that prevent agencies from offering pets safe, temporary housing while their people seek and receive the support services they need. Don’t let the name fool you, while AZCPP is headquartered in Arizona, Home Away from Harm and its life-saving mission is a nationwide initiative spearheaded by AZCPP and BestyBnB to help communities across the entire United States.
Our unique approach and revolutionary programs focus on improving and saving the lives of both people and pets in every community across the country. AZCPP keeps pets with the people who love and need them most by connecting vulnerable community members and families in crisis with services and resources to prevent the unnecessary surrender of their beloved companion animals.
1 AZCPP is a fiscally sponsored initiative under the umbrella of The Arizona Pet Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization (Tax ID No.: 86-1008549).
Too often, human social service organizations do not, or cannot, allow pets in their facilities, offer pet care, or temporarily board pets at their facilities.
As a result, individuals are less likely to seek professional social service support during times of crisis. For example, 50% of people who call the 24-hour domestic violence hotline do not leave their abuser upon learning they cannot not bring their pet to a DV Shelter.
Sadly, 70% of pets left behind become abuse victims themselves in retaliation.
These same barriers exist for mental health organizations, veterans services, substance use treatment facilities, and many more. Home Away from Harm ensures all these organizations have the tools, support, and training to build crisis-care safety-net pet programs that are run by their organization. Now, people are able to escape potentially harmful situations and get the help they need while the organization secures and provides a temporary, safe home for their pets.
BestyBnB is a HIPPA compliant, highly confidential, Airbnb-like technical platform that supports Pet Advocacy Programming for both Social Services and Animal Welfare Agencies.
It enables agencies to find safe, confidential, and temporary housing for clients’ pets until they can be reunited. The platform bridges the gap between Social Services and Animal Welfare Agencies to enable Crisis Care and Safety Net Programs where they don’t already exist and serves to enhance such programs where they do.
The HAFH Team & Advisory Board
Leanna Taylor
CEO AZ Pet Project
“Building lifesaving relationships and bridging the gap between human and animal welfare services is the core of AZ Pet Project and Home Away from Harm. Collaborating with an industry leader like BestyBnB allows us to scale our life-saving mission, and brings a first-of-its-kind solution that would not otherwise exist for communities across the country.”
Kathy Mock
Manager of Strategic Partnerships AZ Pet Project
“I have a passion for bringing groups together to listen and learn from each other, build consensus, and move forward together collectively to build a world that works better for all of us. To do this work on behalf of both the people we serve and the pets they love is a dream come true!”
Matt Krentz
Co-founder of bestybnb
“The Arizona Pet Project is a pioneer in protecting and supporting bonded families to ensure pet owners do not have to choose between helping their pets and getting the help they need. By combining the pet support services and expertise offered by AZ Pet Project with the technology-driven and human-centric support services of BestyBNB, millions of people and pets across the country will be helped.”
Andy Bond
Co-founder of bestybnb
“Matt and I were listening to a report on our local NPR affiliate about the severe challenges Domestic Violence Shelters face. We learned that 50% of abuse survivors who call a 24-hour emergency hotline seeking safety decide to stay in life-threatening situations when they learn they can’t bring their pets. We were shocked by this, and decided to do something about it.”
Zoë Agnew-Svoboda
Director of Engagement & Program Development BestyBnB
“With Home Away From Harm, we are bridging the gap between social services and animal welfare. More families can find peace of mind, knowing their pets are safe while they receive the support they need. Together, we’re enabling people to keep their beloved animals as lifelong companions, allowing them to focus on their recovery.”
Educational and Outreach Partners
Arizona Pet Project
Bestybnb
the Humane society
