About Us

Our Mission

At The Crate Escape Crisis Comfort, we believe that no one should have to choose between their well-being and their beloved pets. Our mission is to provide temporary, safe, and compassionate care for pets when their owners face unexpected crises, such as medical emergencies, mental health struggles, domestic violence situations, or homelessness. By offering a short-term pet care solution, we help keep pets out of shelters and ensure families stay together when life becomes overwhelming.

What We Do

We provide free, temporary pet care for individuals in crisis, ensuring that pets are safe and cared for until they can be reunited with their owners. Our services include:

• Short-term boarding (up to 30 days)

• Foster care options when available

• Basic grooming

• Dog walking and enrichment activities

• Drop-in visits for pets who need to remain in their home (dogs, cats, and small animals)

Our program is strictly temporary—we do not rehome pets. Pets in our care remain their owner’s pets, and our goal is always reunification.

Why It Matters

During times of crisis, many pet owners face limited options for their animals, forcing some to surrender them to shelters or leave them in unsafe situations. We step in to provide peace of mind so owners can focus on their recovery, knowing their pets are safe and well cared for.

Our Story

Founded by Kyrie Laubenthal, owner of The Crate Escape in Erie, PA, the Crisis Comfort Program was created to bridge the gap between human crisis support and pet care. After witnessing the struggles pet owners face during life’s hardest moments, Kyrie was determined to bridge the gap between crisis support and pet care.

Since launching, our program has helped numerous individuals and families in Erie, PA, ensuring that pets are cared for while their owners get the support they need. The Crate Escape Crisis Comfort operates on a donation-based model, relying on community support to continue providing this crucial service.

Get Involved

This program is made possible through the generosity of our community. If you’d like to support our mission, you can help by:

• Donating funds or pet supplies

• Becoming a volunteer or foster

• Spreading awareness about our program

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in keeping pets and their people together.

Need Help?

If you or someone you know needs temporary pet care due to a crisis, Crisis Comfort may be able to help.

Our services are available to Erie County residents and typically require referral from a caseworker or recognized organization. This helps ensure our limited resources reach those facing the most urgent situations.

Before applying, please review our eligibility requirements.

Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Each case is reviewed based on eligibility, available space, and program capacity.

View Eligibility & Submit an Application

Together, we can make sure no one has to say goodbye to their pet during their hardest moments. 💙🐾