Back in 2019, Purina and the nonprofit RedRover joined forces to create the Purple Leash Project, their goal being to build more pet-friendly spaces so survivors and their pets can escape domestic violence and heal together.
The idea started more than a decade ago, when a Purina employee learned about the difficult decisions many domestic abuse survivors with pets are forced to make: stay with an abuser or leave a beloved pet behind. It seemed unfair that pets, who may be the only source of unconditional love and support for a survivor, weren’t even considered. RedRover was an obvious choice for a partner, its mission being to bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster-relief services, financial assistance and education.
The facts:
- More than 12 million people a year – 1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men – experience domestic abuse.
- Only 20 percent of domestic violence shelters accept pets.
- Some 48 percent of survivors won’t leave because they can’t take their companion animals with them.
- More than 70 percent of women in shelters report an abuser threatened, harmed or killed a pet as a means of control.
Purina and RedRover are committed to providing one million safe nights for domestic abuse survivors and their pets by the end of 2030. Since 2019, they’ve helped double the number of pet-friendly shelters. The Purple Leash Project has given grants of over $2 million in more than 30 states. And Purina employees have dedicated more than 2,500 hours to help create more safe spaces for survivors and their pets. To date, they’ve helped create more than 260,000 safe nights.
