pets

Renovations Allow for Safe Accommodations

Sacramento, CA (November 16, 2023) – RedRover® has awarded $1,104,655 in Safe Housing grants in 2023 – the most ever in one year, thanks in part to Purina and PetSmart Charities! In the last round of the year, $277,500 in grants were awarded to six shelters.

Safe Housing grants of up to $60,000 are available, and can be used to build or renovate spaces dedicated to housing domestic survivors’ pets, to create a foster program, to pay for temporary boarding, or for a combination of services. Funds may also go toward routine veterinary care, emergency veterinary care, and pet deposits.

RedRover Director of Outreach and Collaboration, Katie Campbell, said, “We are so proud to play a role in helping more survivors and their pets escape abusers. Knowing as more shelters become pet friendly, more lives will be saved – and that is what drives us with each grant awarded.”

This cycle, four domestic violence shelters and two animal shelters were awarded grants (all *DV shelters will become pet friendly for the first time). 

RedRover + Purina Purple Leash Project DV Shelter Grantees:

• *Liberty House, Dougherty County, Georgia, ($20,000): Built new pet retreat building and private play yard for dogs.
• *A Safe Place, Lake County, Illinois, ($60,000): Creating two pet-friendly bedrooms, pet-friendly socialization area, and an extensive outside dog run. 

DV Shelter Grantees:

• *Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc., Winnebago County, Wisconsin, ($60,000 funded by PetSmart Charities): Renovating future facility to include an indoor kennel area, outdoor pet relief, outdoor play area, and pet supply storage space.
• *Partners for Peace, Penobscot County, Maine, ($25,500 funded by PetSmart Charities): Extended existing privacy fence for dog play yards, created two pet-friendly living rooms, and installed pet-friendly flooring.

Animal Shelter Grantees:

• Humane Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, ($52,000): Creating fully furnished living room space, as well as renovating an outdoor canine play yard with new privacy fencing for enhanced security, gazebo, seating and canine enrichment.
• Cecil County Animal Services, Cecil County, Maryland ($60,000): Renovating “The Cottage at CCAS” to include dog kennels, cat condos, pet-friendly flooring and furnished living room

Humane Fort Wayne Executive Director Jessica Henry-Johnson said, “We’re very grateful to RedRover for this critical funding which will allow us not only to significantly increase the number of families we’ll serve, but – equally as important – enable us to create family-friendly indoor and outdoor spaces that will give additional comfort to domestic violence survivors and pets during difficult times.”

“A Safe Housing grant from RedRover will allow Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services to provide safety and support to survivors and pets under one roof for the first time,” said Alicia Wenger, executive director of the shelter! “Due to the limitations of communal living in our current space, we have not been able to welcome survivors and pets in-shelter since we opened our doors in 1984. Thanks to RedRover, we are entering a new chapter for our agency and our community.”

David Trolio of The Community Services Foundation of Cecil County, Inc. said, “Thanks to RedRover’s Safe Housing Grant, Cecil County Animals Services now has the opportunity to expand its Project Safe Haven Program by funding necessary renovations to an auxiliary building on the Cecil County Animal Services Campus. The Community Services Foundation of Cecil County, Inc., is extremely grateful to RedRover for their generous grant.”

With the generosity of PetSmart Charities, RedRover launched the 25 by 2025 campaign with Greater Good Charities and Purina. This national initiative aims to help 25% of domestic violence shelters to become pet friendly by 2025. This year, 13 of the 25 shelters funded were able to welcome pets onsite for the first time, bringing us closer to our goal. To learn how to join the movement, visit 25by2025.org.

Safe Housing grant application deadlines are March 1, June 1, and September 1. To learn more, visit: RedRover.org/SafeHousing.

Pets and Domestic Violence:

• As many as 71% of pet-owning women entering DV shelters reported their abuser injured, killed, or threatened family pets (F.R. Ascione)
• Up to 48% of DV victims reported delaying leaving an abuser for fear of what would happen if they left their pets behind (F.R. Ascione)
• 91% of survivors indicated their pets’ emotional support and physical protection are significant in their ability to survive and heal
• Nearly 19% of DV shelters nationwide are pet friendly (“pet friendly” means shelters can accept companion animals/pets, in addition to service and emotional support animals)

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About RedRover

Founded in 1987, RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education. Since 2012, RedRover has awarded 210 grants to shelters in 46 states, totaling more than $4 million. Additionally, Safe Housing grants have created the first pet-friendly domestic violence shelter in 10 states! RedRover has earned a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org.

Contact: Sheri Madsen

916.600.8157 cell

smadsen@redrover.org