Addiction is a powerful disease that can destroy lives, but when it comes to seeking treatment, many addicts worry more about what will happen to their pets.

Christy Huffman gives a friendly warning as she provides a tour of Paya’s Place, her non-profit named after her dog.

“You haven’t started your day unless you’ve stepped in poop or pee before your coffee,” she said.

She’s proud to give back by providing a meaningful service through her organization.

“A lot of people say, ‘You know what? I’m not going to recovery, I’m not going to treatment because I won’t leave my animal,” said Huffman.

And she knows that sentiment all too well.

Three years ago, Huffman hit rock bottom.

“I woke up in the hospital bleeding and in big trouble at work, and the decision was easy to make, I had to go (to recovery), but what to do with my dogs,” she said.

She needed rehab, but to get sober, someone had to watch her dogs Paya and Lucky.

“My sister was so selfless when she came out here to help me, I’m going to cry when I think about it because it’s so selfless what she did,” said Huffman.

Her sister’s actions inspired her to open Paya’s Place and take in pets so their owners can “rest easy in recovery.”

“I want the journey to start with them going to treatment and end with them being reunited, that’s the main focus and the main goal of everything that I do,” Huffman said.

That’s exactly what happened with John and his little dachshund Addy, and for Jennifer with her two dogs Charlie and Marley.

Huffman has really transformed her entire home into a utopia for the dogs there, but to continue further, she really needs volunteers to continue the same concept with other foster homes.

“Volunteers that are like-minded that want to take on the 30-day, 45-day, 90-day commitment to take care of an animal whose owner is coming back for them,” she said.

Knowing their pets are waiting for them on the outside is often the very reason addicts find success in sobriety.

“If I’m going to be her mom, I have to provide for her. I can’t be drunk,” said Huffman.

With Huffman’s help, countless animals are kept out of shelters and avoid euthanasia, instead being kept and cared for with other pups whose parents are fighting to get healthy.

“It’s devastating, and if I can help anybody, anyway I can in their journey, I’ll do it, I’ll do whatever I can,” she said. “If it’s 2 o’clock in the morning, call me! Let me know and I’ll be there.”

In addition to its website, Paya’s Place can also be found on Facebook and TikTok.

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