Washington floods

Tawnessa finds pet-friendly housing after flooding

Tawnessa is in a wheelchair with her service dog, Frida.

Even before the December 2025 floods hit Tawnessa and her partner Brian’s home in Washington, they survived tragedy.In 2024, a car accident left Tawnessa disabled with multiple medical conditions and her two dogs Frida and Kaiser played a crucial role in helping her heal both physically and emotionally. That’s why when Tawnessa received a mandatory evacuation order warning of severe weather and flooding on December 10, 2025, she reached for her dogs. With Brian out of town for work, Tawnessa was left to pack their essentials quickly. Then came the question, where do you evacuate with two large dogs?

“I just remember sitting in the car and having a little bit of a cry because I didn't know what we were going to do.”

- Tawnessa, Airbnb.org guest

A home with water damage and a sleeping bag on the ground after a flood entered the home.

Tawnessa & Brian’s home after the floods.

Within two hours of leaving, water already started to fill Tawnessa and Brian’s home. Tawnessa searched for emergency housing that could accommodate their whole family, including Frida and Kaiser.Tawnessa found a shelter that would only allow pets in cages, but they needed a space where the dogs could roam freely to help her with daily tasks.

Two dogs sit in the backseat of a car looking out the rear window.

Kaiser and Frida, Tawnessa and Brian’s two dogs.

“There was no separation from the dogs. If that meant us sleeping in a car, then that meant us sleeping in a car.”

- Tawnessa

That’s when Tawnessa found Airbnb.org. Tawnessa and Brian booked a stay in a home that, to their relief, had plenty of space for Frida and Kaiser.

A dog and her owner sit on a couch while the owner is kissing the dog.

“Being able to rest our head in a comfy bed that night and shower was just so awesome. Being able to cook our own dinner and not have to get some random fast food…it felt like such a luxury.”

- Tawnessa

Though Tawnessa and Brian’s home became uninhabitable, they were able to find rest in their Airbnb.org stay just 20 minutes from their house. This means Tawnessa, Brian, and their dogs were never too far from home.Airbnb.org provided free, emergency housing to 2,300 impacted people and 220 pets in response to these floods. Most importantly for Tawnessa and Brian, that includes Frida and Kaiser.Donate to help families like Tawnessa, Brian, Frida, and Kaiser.