(upbeat music) - Ruff Haven provides a temporary safe haven for companion animals in order to keep pets and their people together in times of crisis.

And here with more information about this important organization is one of the co-founders, Kimo Pokini.

Hi, Kimo.

Thank you so much for bringing little Mitzi in.

- Oh.

Thanks, Mary.

We are delighted to be here, as you can see.

- Yes, okay, so you've co-founded this during the pandemic back in 2020, and tell us how you help people 'cause a lot of people end up in crisis, as you say, and worry about their pets.

- Yeah, it's true.

I mean, if you are a pet owner, and, by the way, over 2/3 of people have a dog or a cat, you know how much it is to have a pet in your life, and that constant loving companion means a lot.

But a lot of pet families also struggle from time to time, or one emergency can really derail a family.

So what we try to do is to provide a safe haven for pets.

We temporarily watch them for 60 to 90 days or so to allow the families to get through their crisis, locate their resources, and get back on their feet.

And we're able to reunify the pet families together after that crisis has passed.

- That's great because, I mean, really, I had a friend who was in an accident, and her biggest worry was her dog.

- Yeah.

It's true.

Whether it's hospitalization, domestic violence, medical treatments, a lot of things kind of present challenges for families, if they're trying to escape a dangerous situation or find some kind of safe haven for themselves and their family.

- So you'll come in and find the dog a partner, family, that kind of watches after them.

- Yeah.

So that's one of the asks that we have if you're interested in volunteering, for example.

If you are interested in doing, say, a temporary foster sitting for an animal, that frees up space in our shelter where we also house animals, and it provides other families the opportunity to work through their challenges as well.

- And I know you can provide vaccinations and everything.

- Yeah, as part of our mission, we really want to keep pets together with their families as much as possible.

Free pet vaccinations.

Also free grooming for families who need it.

- Okay.

Well thank you so much for what you do.

Thanks for being here.

- Thank you so much.

- And if you'd like to know more about Ruff Haven, just go to ruffhaven.org.

That's ruffhaven.org.

(upbeat music) I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

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Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.