May 29th, 2026
By Katie Campbell, President and CEO –
Supporting domestic violence (DV) survivors and their pets is not just a U.S.-based movement. It’s a global movement with many organizations working to understand the connection between human and animal violence and creating solutions that keep both people and animals safe.
What is especially encouraging about this global movement for me has been the effort to learn from one another. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to do just that recently with Monique Dam from Lucy’s Project in Australia during her visit to the U.S. to learn from organizations across the country. We were thrilled to have Monique join us during a Don’t Forget the Pets workshop and then welcomed her into our office for an in-depth discussion on how we’re approaching this work. Sharing not just our own experiences, but also learning from Monique and Lucy’s Project successes and challenges.
To be approached as a “thought leader” in this space is humbling and a reflection on the work that RedRover has done since 2007 when we started our Safe Escape grants program. But we wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for the countless individuals and organizations who shared their insights and expertise with us along the way.
Thought leaders are forward-thinkers who innovate and contribute to the conversation. They’re willing to share their experiences (the good and the bad) and, I believe, are also committed to listening and learning. The fact of the matter is that we don’t know it all. We can’t. But we’re committed to continuing to learn and adapt where we can. We learned as much from Monique as I hope she learned from us. What an amazing opportunity to learn from a thought leader from nearly halfway around the globe right in our own backyard!