domestic violence survivors

Sacramento, CA (January 11, 2023) – RedRover and DomesticShelters.org have formed a data-sharing partnership to help domestic violence victims, survivors, and advocates easily find domestic violence shelters and programs that accommodate survivors’ pets onsite and offsite in the United States and Canada.

Many victims of domestic violence have fears about what will happen to their pets if they leave an abuser, making it a common barrier to escape. That’s just one of the reasons that RedRover and DomesticShelters.org have improved their partnership by moving RedRover’s shelter and community program data source Safeplaceforpets.org to DomesticShelters.org. The partnership is focused on creating comprehensive resources for victims, survivors and advocates, as well as raising awareness of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters.

“Pets are family. Partnering with DomesticShelters.org means survivors and advocates have a ‘one-stop shop’ to find a safe haven in their region that may also be able to accommodate their beloved pets,” RedRover President and CEO Nicole Forsyth said.

The need for pet-friendly shelters is undeniable. Currently only 17.14% of domestic shelters welcome pets.

“Allowing survivors to bring their pets with them when they leave an abuser, eliminates a barrier that could keep someone in a dangerous situation longer,” said Theresa’s Fund & DomesticShelters.org President and CEO Ashley Rumschlag. “RedRover is playing a major role in changing the way domestic violence programs address pets on and off site at shelters and we are proud of our partnership.”

Through the data sharing, and with research supported by The University of Windsor’s Animal and Interpersonal Abuse Research Group, the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council and Purina, the organizations have definitive pet sheltering information from 2,554 of the 2,841 of the domestic violence shelters and programs in the U.S. and Canada. About 1 in 3 offer onsite or offsite solutions. In fact, there are 362 (12.74%) shelters and programs that offer onsite pet sheltering and 514 (20.9%) that offer offsite pet sheltering, commonly through community partnerships with the Humane Society, municipal animal shelters and local groups, foster care and animal rescues.

DomesticShelters.org has the largest database of domestic violence shelters and programs in the U.S. and Canada. To easily find which shelters offer pet services, users can identify a “paw” icon next to the shelter name. This improved partnership will add even more “paws” to the database.

Safeplaceforpets.org has also added a link to Safe Haven for Pets – a website that lists animal organizations that provide boarding or fostering for pets, as well as domestic violence shelters that offer a pet program.

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About RedRover

Established in 1987, RedRover is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Sacramento, California, that serves the United States and Canada. RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and humane education. Through their RedRover Relief program, they have helped domestic violence survivors and their pets escape abuse through Safe Escape and Safe Housing grants. To learn how RedRover is building a more compassionate future, visit RedRover.org.

About Theresa’s Fund

Preston V. McMurry, Jr. At a time when domestic violence wasn’t yet a headline, Theresa’s Fund focused on changing the landscape of domestic violence services in its home state through grantmaking, board development and fundraising for Arizona-based organizations like East Valley Child Crisis Center, Sojourner Center, Florence Crittenden, Emerge, UMOM, and West Valley Child Crisis Center. In 2014, it developed the DomesticShelters.org concept as a way to expand its reach to people across the U.S. and Canada. DomesticShelters.org is the first online and mobile searchable database of programs and shelters in the U.S./Canada, and a leading source of helpful tools and information for people experiencing and working to end domestic violence. It is also the host of the Purple Ribbon Awards, the first comprehensive awards program honoring the countless heroes of the domestic violence movement, including advocates, programs, shelters, survivors and members of the community support system. Learn more at DomesticShelters.org.