Overcoming a nightmare: Human trafficking survivors finds comfort in baking
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The aftermath of human trafficking can be a long and painful fight.
But for one group of survivors, relief comes from baking handmade dog treats.
"I remember before this help going to sleep and asking God if I can just sleep and never wake up," said Susy, a sex trafficking victim.
The memories of her painful journey to freedom still haunt Susy to this day.
"I am still dealing with a lot of things I lost. I lost my two kids. I lost my ex-husband, which was my husband in the moment," she said.
Susy, who is from Costa Rica, said she was trafficked by her best friend's mother-in-law after her friend offered her a free one-week vacation in the U.S.
"Since that day, she put me in that apartment in Virginia and I slept with a lot of men," Susy said. "I started my schedule at 8 a.m. and it was over between 10 and 11 p.m. from Monday through Sunday.
The emotional physical and mental abuse she endured during those years can be hard to forget, but there's one thing that helps: Baking organic animal treats.
"Form me its healing," Susy said.
Susy and other survivors work a regular 8-hour shift at a safe house called Hepzibah House.
They mix the ingredients, stir them in a large bowl, roll the dough and cut it into pieces.
Then, they put the animal treats in a dehydrator for 16 hours before heating them in the oven.
Once they're ready, they are packaged and sent to local pet stores and a green market in Pompano.
For Susy, doing this job helps her live somewhat of the normal life she's dreamed of for years.
"Now baking the treats, I know that I have honest money, good money that is doing something good, not only for me but for someone else," she said. "It's going to put a big smile in the person who gives that treat to that dog, that dog is going to eat it happy, so I am happy."
The women get paid for their work and are taught how to manage their money.
Every package of Zibah treats sold goes to helping women like Susy.
