In conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Marsy’s Law for Georgia has awarded Ahimsa House with a Champion Award for its work helping domestic abuse survivors and their pets.
Based in Tucker, Ahimsa House offers services and assistance to people leaving abusive households. Ahimsa House is Georgia’s first and only organization helping both human and animal victims of domestic violence reach safety together.
The organization was founded in 2004 by Emily Christie after she lost a pet to domestic violence. According to the organization, up to 71% of victims entering domestic violence shelters reported that their pets were threatened, injured, or killed by their abusers.
In 2026, Ahimsa House has helped 134 survivors and 2018 animals.
Christie and executive director Myra Rasnick received the Champion Award on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at a ceremony at the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence office in Decatur.
The honor was awarded by Marsy’s Law for Georgia, a victims’ rights advocacy group. The national non-profit was founded by the brother of Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas, who was stalked and murdered by her ex-boyfriend.
