ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Just months ago, Xayla was working to rebuild her life.<\/p>\n
A mother of three, including a young child and two pets, she said she was focused on getting back on her feet after a difficult period.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t let me work; he wouldn\u2019t work. It was to the point where we couldn\u2019t pay our bills,\u201d Xayla said. \u201cHe was so controlling.\u201d<\/p>\n
After her boyfriend lost his job, she said his behavior changed, escalating from control to abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe started getting physical with me,\u201d she said. \u201cHe even got physical with my animals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those animals, her pit bull, Bean, and her calico kitten, Dutchess, were more than pets. They were part of her family. But as the violence escalated, Xayla said the danger spread beyond her and her animals.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce it happened with my child, I called the police,\u201d she said. \u201cI said I have to find somewhere else to go because he\u2019s also on the spectrum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, leaving wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n
Like many survivors of domestic violence, Xayla said she didn\u2019t immediately walk away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave chances because things happen in life that could change you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But everything changed, she said, when her boyfriend put a gun to her head and fired a shot into a closet.<\/p>\n
With help from her mother, who cared for her son, Xayla began planning her escape. One major obstacle remained: where could she go on short notice with both her child and her pets?<\/p>\n
That answer came in the form of Harbor House of Central Florida, a domestic violence shelter that accepts animals alongside their owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very secure and very confidential,\u201d Xayla said. \u201cMe, my pets, and my son. I felt very safe. I felt like I could breathe again.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Harbor House\u2019s Paws for Peace Kennel, she says her pets were treated with the same care she received.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy pit had a big ole bed, a beautiful yard, free treats,\u201d she said. \u201cThey made sure they had toys; they even paid for vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, Xayla has moved into transitional housing, is back at work, and is safe. Her abuser remains behind bars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis experience has definitely taught me to love myself more,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s getting me closer to God, and I\u2019ve been on a really good journey since I left that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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