As a single woman with a small support system, Beverly Means wondered who would care for her five fur babies if she couldn’t.
Means couldn’t find an answer, so she created one: Transitions Pet Care, a free, all-volunteer nonprofit determined to be a lifeline for pet owners in crisis.
Credit: Phil Skinner
“Our goal is to help people keep their pets when they need their comfort and companionship the most,” said the 42-year-old former social worker turned insurance underwriter. “We’re also keeping these pets out of our already overcrowded shelters.”
Growing up in Marietta, Means spent more than a decade as a social worker, helping unhoused people and even cofounding a nonprofit that provided them with beds. But her next mission was born out of a deeply personal concern.
One day, she had one of those moments many single people can relate to. What would happen to her three dogs and two cats if she became sick or injured? Or worse, what if she got hit with the cancer that runs in her family? How could anyone afford the thousands of dollars needed to care for pets during weeks or even months of recovery?