Purple Leash Project

Grants Provide Safe Haven to Animal Victims of Domestic Abuse

Sacramento, CA (December 19, 2019) – RedRover has awarded more than $159,000 in grant funds to 10 domestic violence shelters in nine states during the second grant cycle this year. These Safe Housing grants enable the shelters to create on- and off-site space to house pets through RedRover’s Safe Housing program. Of the 10 grants awarded, five are RedRover + Purina Purple Leash Project grants, an extension of RedRover’s Safe Housing program. These grants allow shelters to build on-site housing for pets.

Out of the 248 domestic violence shelters that do or will soon house pets, RedRover has provided grants to assist their efforts over the last seven years.

RedRover President & CEO Nicole Forsyth states, “People often stay in abusive relationships for fear of leaving their pets behind to suffer in the hands of the abuser. By adding pet-friendly spaces to domestic violence shelters we can help save the lives of people and their pets – and allow them to begin their long healing process together.”

The following shelters received Safe Housing grants during this application period:

  • Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas – Saline County, KS, $20,000
  • Wayne County Protective Agency, Inc. dba Fair Haven – Wayne County, GA, $20,000
  • L.I. Against Domestic Violence – Suffolk County, NY, $20,000
  • Colorado River Regional Crisis Services – La Paz County, AZ, $6,200
  • Center for Family Services – Camden County, NJ, $19,000

The following shelters received Purina + RedRover Purple Leash Project grants during this application period:

  • Safe Voices – Androscoggin County, ME, $20,000
  • Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence, Inc. – Hart County, GA, $20,000
  • OhioGuidestone – Personal and Family Counseling Services – Cuyahoga County, OH, $20,000
  • Victor Valley Domestic Violence, Inc.- San Bernardino County, CA, $6,065
  • Survivor Resource Network – Kay County, OK, $8,700

According to research conducted by Dr. Frank Ascione, as many as 71 percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters report their abuser injured, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or psychological control, and up to 48 percent of domestic violence victims reported delaying leaving their abusers because they feared what would happen to their pets.

“We are thrilled to be taking the next step in providing safety for victims of domestic violence and their pets. Co-living is an improvement over fostering and will open the possibility of shelter to families and individuals who never thought we could help them and pets,” Colleen Merlo, Executive Director of L.I. Against Domestic Violence, said.

RedRover and Purina are working towards the goal of having at least one pet-friendly domestic violence shelter in each state. Currently, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and West Virginia shelters have NO pet-friendly domestic violence shelters.  We strongly encourage the shelters in these states to apply for Safe Housing grants.  For a complete list of RedRover programs to help domestic violence victims escape their abusive situation with their pets, visit redrover.org/relief.

Deadlines to apply for Safe Housing and Purple Leash Project grants are May 15 and October 15 each year. To learn more, visit: https://redrover.org/SafeHousing.

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About RedRover

Since 1987, RedRover has focused 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 given 109 Safe Housing grants to domestic violence shelters in 37 states, totaling more than $1M. For the fifth consecutive year, RedRover has earned a 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
916.429.2457 ext. 310
916.600.8157 cell
smadsen@redrover.org

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