Bring Jenni Home

Jenni is a US citizen living in Istanbul. Her fiancé has progressed from what at first seemed like flattering attentiveness, to being very domineering and controlling (controlling her food intake, her medications, when she can sleep, when she can use the restroom, not letting her outside unattended) to now physically assaulting her.

If that were not bad enough, he has also begun physically abusing her pets - three chihuahuas and one cat. 

She is desperately trying to escape this terrifying situation, and come back home to Michigan. She has friends waiting to help here in the US, but is having significant trouble leaving Turkey. Every moment she stays there she is in danger.

The one biggest issue impeding her escape is the pets. She is so scared to leave any behind, but no airline out of Istanbul will allow her to bring four - she can only travel with two.

She is trying to escape with the two that are receiving the most abuse, but doesn’t know what will happen to the other two chihuahuas left behind.

The first problem she needs financial help with is the pet fees for the two that will fly with her - $420 USD (this was already paid to one airline, but she was prevented from boarding during that escape attempt and lost that fee entirely). This is the most immediate need so we can get Jenni on a plane with 2 of the pets and get her safely back home.  

The second problem is the two chihuahuas being left behind for which there are two options:

1) Find friends that are planning on or willing to fly from Istanbul to anywhere in the Midwest or East Coast, and able to bring and temporarily care for one or both chihuahuas. Cost in addition to the plane tickets is $210 per dog to board the plane plus cost of care until she can reach the dog in the US. This is clearly a long shot,  but if you or anyone you know may be able to do this please reach out to us!


2) Pet transportation companies could take both dogs together, and deliver them to Jenni in MI, but it generally costs about $1500 per dog. We are working to find a temporary foster situation in Turkey for the remaining 2 dogs until we can find a way to get them back to Jenni without risking her safety.  The pet transportation companies are a much more likely solution than finding someone to fly the pets themselves, but the cost is prohibitive. 

I am setting the fundraising goal at $3500 hoping we can get her the $420 needed to get the first two pets home with her,  then get the second two transported back to the US. 

Jenni is an artist,  and would like to give back to people willing to help her out.  For any donation of $50 or more she would provide an original 5x5 (existing or commissioned) piece. For donations of $150 or more a 9x12 piece. She would need time to get settled to get these done,  but would be happy to provide some of her beautiful work as thanks for your donation.  Please let us know if you would like to receive a piece of art in gratitude for your donation of $50 or more,  and we will set it up.  

Thank you for your time in reading this - any support is appreciated,  whether $1 or $100, or just sharing this fundraiser as much as possible.