Website Helps Shelters Become Pet-Friendly
Sacramento, California (June 1, 2021) – Did you know that nearly 50% of domestic violence survivors delay leaving their abusers because they can’t bring their pets with them to safety. Did you also know that 10% of the 3.5 million Americans experiencing homelessness have pets?
RedRover and Rescue Rebuild, a program of Greater Good Charities, are proud to announce they are removing barriers to finding safe shelters that accommodate pets by launching their “Don’t Forget the Pets” website! This website is made possible with the generous support of a $100,000 donation from PetSmart Charities.
“I love breaking down difficult concepts and helping people understand that the construction required to start pet programs is really as simple as a step-by-step recipe,” said Bryna Donnelly, Vice President of Pet Programs for Greater Good Charities. She went on, “Everyone deserves safety and shelter, and everyone should feel the unconditional love of a pet – with every barrier we remove, it makes it that much easier for communities to help people and their pets find that much-needed security.”
The website offers tips on fundraising, insights on human services and animal welfare, as well as construction expertise to help organizations welcome pets of domestic violence survivors and unhoused populations. Additional features include:
Training Handbook: A FREE comprehensive step-by-step guide to creating pet-friendly programs for human service shelters and animal shelters
Forum: A community to connect, engage, and learn about everything from housing strategies to fundraising, to program success and challenges
Training Workshops: Virtual and in-person Don’t Forget the Pets workshops which cover the importance of the human-animal bond, the link between human and animal violence, fundraising tips, and more
Coaching Program: One-on-one support to give you tailored guidance based on your needs
Don’t Forget the Pets originated as a workshop for domestic violence, homeless, and animal shelters to come together to learn how to create dedicated space or programs that welcome the pets of people in crisis. Since its inception in October 2019, they have held nine workshops and trained 238 people. The workshops are currently being held online, while in-person trainings are TBD.
RedRover Director of Collaboration and Outreach Katie Campbell said, “Something amazing happens when people come together around a common cause, and this really is the core of the Don’t Forget the Pets project. From our training workshops and website, to the forum and coaching program, it’s all about providing a space for connection and to share the knowledge we’ve learned from experts. These experts are the ones creating and engaging in pet programs around the country for our most vulnerable populations, and they have the day-to-day insights that are invaluable.”
“Pets are invaluable members of the family and are a common reason why victims delay leaving their abusers. In many instances, animal abuse is often the first indicator of domestic violence within a household,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities. “As an organization that acknowledges the support that pets provide in times of crisis, we’re proud to partner with Greater Good Charities and RedRover to support the launch of Don’t Forget the Pets.”
Visit dontforgetthepets.org for more information and to sign up for the next online training July 14-15.
About RedRover
RedRover is a 501(c)(3) national animal welfare nonprofit organization. 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 humane education. Through their RedRover Relief program, they have provided more than $2M to support domestic violence survivors and their pets, have helped thousands of animals, and provided more than 420,000 safe nights of boarding. To learn how RedRover is building a more compassionate future, visit redrover.org.
About Greater Good Charities
Greater Good Charities is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization, with a 100/100 rating on Charity Navigator, that works to amplify the good in the world to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Since 2007, Greater Good Charities has given over $300 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 5,000 charitable partners worldwide and funded projects in 121 countries. To date, Greater Good Charities has provided $22 million in support for COVID-19 disaster-relief, including cash grants, in-kind supplies, and programmatic support. To learn more about how Greater Good Charities is amplifying the good across the globe, please visit greatergood.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $450 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
Media Contact:
Sheri Madsen
RedRover PR Specialist
smadsen@redrover.org or 916.600.8157