Each October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed. Throughout the month, survivors, advocates, and professionals honor those lost, celebrate the progress made to address the issue, and collaborate on efforts to continue this work. With your help, we’ve been able to join the effort, by focusing on bringing survivors and their pets to safety.

While research has shown that 97% of domestic violence survivors say that keeping their pets with them is an important factor in their decision to stay or leave, only about 19% of domestic violence shelters currently allow pets on site. That’s something many parties are working to change as part of the 25 by 2025 effort, which aims to ensure 25% of shelters have the capacity to take in pets by 2025.  Thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations, several Rescue Rebuild projects this year have helped us progress toward this goal. With your continued support, we hope to do even more.

Supporting a New Program Bringing Iowa Survivors and Pets to Safety

In August, we teamed up with Greater Good Charities on a rebuild at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Iowa City, Iowa. The organization provides comprehensive support to survivors and their loved ones in eight counties across the state. Among their offerings is a new pet program, which we helped them put into place to allow survivors the peace of mind in knowing their pets will also be safe when they seek shelter.

As part of this important project, there were a variety of indoor and outdoor renovations needed. A new dog play yard and pet relief areas were filled with comfortable, easy to clean gravel, while five pet retreats also got furniture, cat shelving, TVs, and other décor to create a comfortable space that allows pets and their owners to bond and decompress together. These pet retreats also got some cameras so survivors can continue to see that their furry family members are safe, while new lockable pet doors lead from the retreat rooms to a fenced-in pet relief area.

Other new features include enrichment for dogs in the play yard to help them release pent up mental and physical energy. This also provides an important bonding opportunity with their humans, through play.

A new grooming sink, blow dryer, and supply storage in a grooming room also provide some of the necessities for pet care.

The overall goal behind the project, which you helped come to fruition, is to provide both an easy transition for survivors and their pets, as well as a comfortable, enriching environment for pets and their humans to relax and bond.

A Safe Haven in Pennsylvania

In September, we also worked with Greater Good Charities to provide similar services to survivors in Pennsylvania. This Rescue Rebuild project was at Safe Berks in Reading, which has spent nearly 50 years supporting domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, with a broad range of services offered in both English and Spanish. Their goal is to provide a safe haven through education, advocacy, and abuse prevention.

Pets are also considered in this safe haven, with the project focusing on providing comfortable and enriching spaces for pets at their shelter. One of the goals of the project was to ensure children’s outdoor spaces and pet outdoor spaces are separated enough to minimize any unwanted interactions for either party.

A new vinyl fence created a yard just for pets, reinforcing the fence currently around the children’s playground. There were also security measures added for both areas, with new locks providing access to just residents with pets or just those with children, depending on the space.

Other pet-focused upgrades included new easy to clean vinyl flooring, lofted beds, cat litter hiders, cat cubbies and shelves, and dog crates in pet-friendly rooms, as well as extra storage space to facilitate the new furry additions. Outside, there was also pea gravel added to the dog play yard, as well as tire tunnels for some fun.

The goal of this project, which again was realized thanks to you, is to make pets welcome, increase safety, minimize interactions between pets and non-pet owners, give pet owners privacy, and make pet spaces more durable and easier to clean.

Keeping Kids and Pets Safe in Louisiana

At least one more domestic violence shelter Rescue Rebuild will also happen before the year ends. In November, we’re again working with Greater Good Charities to give survivors and pets a hand at Iris Domestic Violence Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Iris serves eight parishes throughout Louisiana, offering services like counseling, crisis intervention, and confidential housing. A new service they’re now offering is a day kennel at their confidential housing location to help residents ensure their pets are safe while they’re attending to other matters during the day. This compliments a new primary housing model that allows the pets to remain with their owners in their rooms.

To help build out this new kennel, which the shelter was able to construct thanks to a RedRover grant, the upcoming project will involve the installation of six chain link kennels inside, as well as outside kennels with a dog door so the pups can enjoy outdoor access. Other outdoor pet additions will include two chain-link play yards to allow off leash time and play with owners; gravel along a walkway from the pet-friendly wing to the new dog kennel and play yards, as well as in the play yards themselves; and outdoor furniture that provides owners a place to sit when they accompany their dogs outside. There will also be a new pet wash area with a grooming hose and gravel drainage.

Cozy renovations will be happening inside, too, with cat shelves and window cat boxes providing enrichment and health boosts to feline residents. Another key addition will be a half wall set up in a hallway to help separate pet-friendly rooms and the shelter’s child advocacy area, which are located next to each other. This provides some separation between kids and pets and privacy to all the residents involved.

The goal of this project, that has come about thanks to you, is to support survivors seeking safety with their pets, improve the physical and mental health of pets in the shelter, give residents and staff the peace of mind from knowing that pets are safe, and to ensure children and pets have their own spaces.

Projects like this are so important, as 91% of survivors say the emotional support and physical protection their pets provide them is essential to their ability to survive and heal. If you’d like to support the upcoming build in Louisiana, or any future projects to make domestic violence shelters pet-friendly, click below!