Trigger warning: The following article contains descriptions of domestic violence and animal abuse.
Candice Amundson is astounded. In just four short weeks, she’ll attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Linus’ Pet Haven, a passion project that will have lasting impacts for survivors of domestic violence and their pets.
“It feels surreal…I can’t believe I did this,” Candice says, reflecting on the journey that brought her here.
Linus’ Pet Haven is a groundbreaking program of Alexandra House, a domestic violence support organization in Blaine, Minnesota. It is set to improve the lives of survivors and pets throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The program will provide a lifeline for pet-owning survivors of domestic violence who are seeking a path to safety. The opening of Linus’ Pet Haven also marks a significant turning point for Candice in her journey from survivor to advocate.
Pictured: Candice Amundson
“He came in and jumped on top of me. He put both hands on my neck, choking me.”
In August of 2018, Candice faced an impossible choice. One night, while lying in bed with her beloved bulldog, Linus, and her young son sleeping nearby, Candice was awoken by a violent outburst from her abusive partner.
“He came in and jumped on top of me,” she recalls. “He put both hands on my neck, choking me.”
Linus, who had witnessed incidents like this before and had himself been a target of abuse, bolted from the bed in the chaos, seeking refuge under a table.
Candice too, was familiar with this type of violence. Like many survivors, she had made multiple attempts to leave, each time reluctantly swayed by apologies and promises of change. “He was very remorseful,” she shares. “It was always the same pattern.”
But this particular night was different.
“I realized, I really could have died,” she says. “And then I thought, I have to be here for my son. If I’m not here for him, this is what he’s left with.”
“It wasn’t an option to leave them behind.”
With this realization, Candice contacted Alexandra House. The advocates there helped guide her through the difficult process of leaving. They advised her on how to break her lease, helped her obtain a protective order, and enrolled her in weekly therapy sessions.
But there was a catch. Alexandra House couldn’t accommodate pets. If Candice and her son were to find shelter there, they would be separated from Linus. She recalls, “At the time, they weren’t able to have animals live in the shelter. People would go to the shelter, and the pets would go to a foster home.” The prospect of breaking up her small family was too painful for Candice to imagine, and leaving behind both Linus and her cat, Pickle, was impossible.
“It wasn’t an option to leave them behind,” Candice says firmly. Linus, a rambunctious, silly, and sometimes mischievous little dog, had already been the target of the abuser’s anger. “He had a thing for leather, so he would chew up shoes and wallets,” Candice recalls. One day, the abuser found his chewed-up wallet in Linus’s kennel, and his anger was explosive. “He found him in the kennel with the wallet and he just started punching [him],” she shares.
Unwilling to separate her family but unsure where to go next, Candice packed up her van with her son, Linus, Pickle, and whatever belongings she could fit, and she drove.
Pictured: Candice’s dog, Linus, and her son, Ayden.
“I had my whole life packed in my car. I could have had a heart attack, I was so anxious and worried and scared.”
For the next 24 hours, Candice experienced a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Driving around the city, she struggled to find temporary refuge and couldn’t escape the feeling that the abuser was tracking her.
“I was so frantic,” she says. “I had my whole life packed in my car. I could have had a heart attack, I was so anxious and worried and scared.”
Eventually, Candice found safety with her parents and, with the help of Alexandra House, she began to rebuild her life. Her journey, however, didn’t end there.
Pictured: Linus on a walk in the snow.
“I wanted to do anything I could to keep other people from feeling that pain.”
Though Candice had escaped the abuse, trauma remained. “It’s one thing to get out of the situation, but you also have to heal your mind,” she says. Candice continued to attend weekly therapy sessions at Alexandra House, which she credits with helping her process the emotional scars of her abuse.
Later, as her career in real estate flourished, Candice felt compelled to give back. She started small – organizing donation drives, raising money, and speaking at local fundraising events. But she had a larger, more ambitious project in mind. Candice dreamed of creating a shelter where survivors and their pets could stay together. She wanted to build the type of sanctuary that had been unavailable when she needed it most – one that would welcome the entire family.
Recalling the moment she realized that Linus would not be allowed in the shelter, Candice says, “That was so painful. I wanted to do anything I could to keep other people from feeling that pain.”
“Sometimes you have these visions, these pie in the sky dreams and goals, but it’s really happening. It’s so crazy to think that I did that.”
In 2022, Candice took a pivotal step toward realizing her dream. She attended a virtual Don’t Forget the Pets workshop and joined the Coaching Program. “I was just blown away. Everything was answered,” she says. Armed with new knowledge and confidence, Candice approached Alexandra House with her idea.
“Candice really came to us with heart and passion, and said, ‘How can we make this happen?’” shares Tina Bronson, Director of Mission Advancement for Alexandra House.
Tina and her team recognized the barrier to safety that existed for survivors with pets and they agreed – it was time to do something about it. Over the next 11 months, Candice and Alexandra House secured funding, found partners, and embarked on an ambitious renovation project that would turn four client bedrooms into sanctuaries for survivors with pets.
Now, just weeks away from the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Candice reflects on how far she’s come. “It feels surreal,” she shares. “Sometimes you have these visions, these pie in the sky dreams and goals, but it’s really happening. It’s so crazy to think that I did that.”
“Pets have this secret way of knowing when we need comfort. They help us feel at home, because home isn’t really a place.”
Despite her incredible achievements, Candice’s mission is far from over. She intends to use Linus’ Pet Haven as a stepping stone to inspire other shelters across the country to create spaces where survivors and their pets can heal together.
“Pets have this secret way of knowing when we need comfort,” she says. “They help us feel at home, because home isn’t really a place.”
For more than a decade, Linus the bulldog was home to Candice and her son. His presence brought humor and silliness, comfort and love. In 2023, Linus lost his battle with bladder cancer, passing away peacefully at 11 years old. The impact of his life and his family’s love for him lives on in Linus’ Pet Haven.
Pictured: Candice’s dog, Sally.
For Candice and her son, their home has been made brighter again by the presence of Sally, a pitbull mix they adopted from Save-A-Bull Rescue. “Ayden and I are her crew, she goes everywhere with us,” Candice shares lovingly.
Candice’s journey from survivor to advocate has been a testament to her strength and determination. After forging her own path to safety – one that included her beloved pets – she has now set her sights on safeguarding future survivors, ensuring that no one else will have to choose between safety and the pets that make their families whole.
Danielle Works is the Community Engagement Manager for RedRover. With more than 10 years of experience in animal welfare, Danielle consults with shelters throughout the country to identify collaborative solutions for pets and owners in crisis. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
