Purple Leash Project
We envision a world where no one is trapped in abuse because they can’t take their whole family with them.
For Help, Call the Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
About the Purple Leash Project
The Purple Leash Project was born out of Purina’s mission to bring and keep pets and people together and RedRover’s mission to bring animals and their owners from crisis to care.
RedRover has done amazing work over the last 11 years to change how domestic violence shelters and service providers serve domestic abuse victims and pets.
1 in 3 women experience
domestic abuse in their lifetimes
Only 10% of domestic
violence shelters accept
pets
Nearly half of all victims
delay leaving because they
don't want to leave their pet
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & PETS
An estimated one in three women and one in four men experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetimes, but only ten percent of domestic violence shelters accept pets. As a result, nearly half of victims choose to stay in abusive situations rather than leave their pet behind.
Purina has committed more than $500,000 through 2022 to RedRover to establish Purple Leash Project grants. These grants will be awarded on a biannual basis to provide funding and resources to transform domestic violence shelters into safe spaces for survivors and pets.
Our goal through the Purple Leash Project is to increase the number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters so they’re more accessible.
“I wasn’t expecting I wouldn’t be able to bring Princess. And that was heartbreaking, especially for the kids.”
—Angie, Domestic Abuse Survivor, about her dog, Princess
Through the Purple Leash Project, the PAWS Act and more, we hope to not only raise awareness about the critically low number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters, but to also change the statistics around domestic violence and pets.
The purple leash serves as a visible symbol of an invisible struggle for domestic abuse victims and their pets. Purple represents domestic violence awareness and the leash symbolizes the unbreakable bond between pets and their owners.
Journey to the Purple Leash Project
Prior to the Purple Leash Project, Purina joined the PAWS Act Coalition, a group of non-profit and for-profit organizations that advocated for and supported the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act.
The Act passed on December 20, 2018, as part of the Senate Farm Bill and bridges gaps in services for domestic abuse victims and their pets. Purina and members of the PAWS Act Coalition will continue efforts to promote awareness of the issue and secure funding for the bill.
Purina also worked with Urban Resource Institute (URI) in New York City to open the nation’s first entirely pet-friendly domestic violence shelter.
Volunteers from Purina have also helped Lydia's House, a St. Louis women’s shelter, welcome more pets as well.
NATION’S FIRST ENTIRELY PET-FRIENDLY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER OPENS IN NYC
PURINA’S LOCAL IMPACT ON PET-FRIENDLY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS
“We have NO [domestic violence] shelters that allow pets where I live. I cannot thank you enough for taking this issue seriously. I actually cried when I watched your video, as no one to date has taken this subject seriously.”
— Domestic Abuse Survivor