my abuser told me if i leave i was never going to make it. and my cat helped with that. he lets me know that i am worth living. i found my purpose. and it impacts so many lives that don t feel they have a voice. i owe it to every one of them to keep going. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please join me in honoring cnn hero staci alonso. [ applause ]
beloved pets, one of the stars of hustlers and champion of families belong together, julia steils. in 2005, a young woman with a lifetime of bruises and scars on her body showed up at the shade tree domestic violence shelter in las vegas. she held a garbage bag filled with her clothes in one hand and in the other, the love of her life, a cat in a carrier. staci listened to this woman decla declare the only one who stood by her was her cat. staci built noah s animal s house on the shelter s grounds. inside, there are kennels, an on-call veterinarian, and cuddle rooms for belly rubs, ear scratches, and quiet time to just be. so far 1,700 pets have been