🐾 SAFE’s Staff Spirit Dogs: The Heart Behind the Work

A Day in the Life of a SAFE Advocate

At SAFE, our advocates are the heart of everything we do. They carry stories of strength, walk alongside survivors in their darkest moments, and remind our community that healing is possible. Every day, survivors of domestic violence walk through SAFE’s doors searching for safety, compassion, and hope. Behind the scenes, our dedicated staff works tirelessly to meet them where they are with empathy, expertise, and unwavering strength. A SAFE advocate’s day is never predictable. One moment they may be helping a survivor file a protection order; the next, they may be comforting a child in shelter, connecting someone to food resources, or simply being a listening ear in the darkest hour.

This work requires more than training it takes emotional labor, resilience, and a belief that every survivor deserves a chance to thrive. Because of the sensitive nature of our work, we often protect our staff’s privacy. But today, we want you to meet them in a different way through their “spirit dogs. To honor their spirit and dedication, we’ve matched each of our team members with a “spirit dog” that reflects their unique role and energy at SAFE. Because just like these dogs, our staff embodies loyalty, courage, and heart.

Meet the SAFE Team

🐾 Director – The Pitbull

Strength, leadership, and fierce protection.

💬 “Like a Pitbull, I fight relentlessly for survivors strong, determined, and unwilling to let go until justice and safety are secured.”

🐾 Deputy Director – The Chihuahua

Small but mighty, always alert, and full of heart.

💬 “Sometimes it’s the smallest voice in the room that refuses to be ignored and that’s the one that saves a life.”

🐾 Receptionist – The Beagle

Friendly, warm, and the first to greet you with kindness.

💬 “Like a beagle, I welcome everyone with open arms. Survivors deserve to feel safe the moment they walk through our doors.”

🐾 Community Liaison – The Chocolate Lab

Loyal, approachable, and always building bridges.

💬 “Every connection is a seed. Together, we’re planting a community where safety and hope can grow.”

🐾 Advocate Supervisor – The German Shepherd

Protective, guiding, and deeply committed to the pack.

💬 “Like a shepherd, I guide and protect — ensuring every advocate has the tools and support to stand strong for survivors.”

🐾 Adult Advocate 1 – The Spaniel

Gentle, nurturing, and a source of calm in the storm.

💬 “Sometimes healing starts with simply listening and promising survivors that their story matters.”

🐾 Adult Advocate 2 – The Border Collie

Focused, intelligent, and tireless in pursuit of solutions.

💬 “Justice is built one careful step at a time. I walk that road with survivors, no matter how long it takes.”

🐾 Part-Time Advocate – The Pomeranian

Small but full of energy and determination.

💬 “Every survivor matters, and every moment with them counts.”

🐾 Part-Time Child Advocate – The Greyhound

Graceful, patient, and attuned to the needs of the most vulnerable.

💬 “Children need space to heal at their own pace. Like a greyhound, I wait quietly beside them, ready when they are.”

Our team balances the weight of trauma with the responsibility of hope. They carry heavy stories, but they do it because they know survivors deserve more than survival—they deserve freedom, dignity, and peace.

And this is why your support matters. Donations help cover gas cards for transportation, meals for survivors and their children during support groups, and the everyday tools our advocates need to keep showing up. And thanks to donations from our community, our advocates can focus on providing safety and hope without survivors worrying about the cost.

Why Your Support Matters

When you give to SAFE, you aren’t just donating—you are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our advocates, fueling their work and making sure survivors are never turned away.

💜 www.safelouisiana.org/donate

Join Us at the Candlelight Vigil

We invite you to stand with us at our Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil:

🕯️ Date: October 11, 2025

🕯️ Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

🕯️ Location: Cate Square Park

Together, we’ll honor survivors, remember those lost, and commit as a community to ending domestic violence. This is more than an event—it’s a powerful reminder that no one walks this journey alone.

✨ SAFE’s staff may have different “spirit dogs,” but we share one mission: protecting, empowering, and walking alongside survivors. With your help, our work continues.