All 46 counties have at least one animal shelter to care for stray dogs and cats, but the state has only 18 domestic violence shelters to help women trying to escape abuse in the home.

Before coming to Battersea, Larry was a stray so he was used to fending for himself in the streets.

Raised in a rackety household with a sick mother and alcoholic father, the young Ms Harris sought comfort in animals; snakes, bugs, stray dogs, cats.