Keeping Pets and People Together

For survivors of domestic violence, leaving an abusive situation is never simple. For many, the decision is even more complicated when a beloved pet is involved. Studies show that nearly half of survivors delay leaving because they fear for their pet’s safety — a heartbreaking reality that highlights the powerful bond between people and their animals. Recognizing this critical gap, Purina launched the Purple Leash Project in 2019 to help make domestic violence shelters more pet-friendly and ensure survivors don’t have to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pets.

Since its launch, the Purple Leash Project has grown into a national movement, bringing together nonprofits, advocates, veterinary professionals and communities to expand resources and awareness. From funding shelter renovations to amplifying survivor stories, the initiative continues to gain momentum — and make a measurable difference.

Vet-Advantage spoke with Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, senior veterinarian at Purina, about the inspiration behind the Purple Leash Project, the progress made so far and what lies ahead for this impactful initiative.

What inspired the creation of the Purple Leash Project?

Dr. RuthAnn Lobos: Over a decade ago, a Purina associate read about the difficult decision many domestic abuse survivors with pets are forced to make: Stay with an abuser or leave a beloved pet behind. At Purina, we know the power of the human-pet bond and we understand the many ways a pet’s unconditional love can support people in times of crisis, so we knew we had to help. So, in 2019, we partnered with nonprofit RedRover.

What measurable progress has the project made?

Dr. Lobos: Since launching in 2019, the Purple Leash Project has helped increase the percentage of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters in the U.S. from fewer than 10% to more than 20%.

How many grants have been awarded so far, and what kinds of transformations have those grants made in shelters?

Dr. Lobos: To date, Purina and RedRover have awarded more than 60 grants that have helped create an estimated 263,481 safe nights for survivors and their pets, through pet-friendly renovations, including outdoor relief areas, on-site housing solutions and providing essential supplies to help keep people and pets together when they need each other most.

On top of the grant funding, our associates have dedicated more than 2,500 volunteer hours renovating shelters to make them pet-friendly havens. Last summer, Purina team members partnered with RedRover and Greater Good Charities to volunteer at YWCA Greater Cincinnati, a 2025 grant recipient. Together, we helped transform an existing building into six pet-friendly rooms, equipped them with specialized pet supplies and built two pet relief yards with tire tunnels so dogs can safely play and exercise off-leash.

What are the biggest challenges in convincing shelters to become pet-friendly? How do you overcome resistance?

Dr. Lobos: One of the biggest challenges is simply awareness. Many shelters want to support survivors with pets, but they may not realize how significant the barrier can be or that funding and guidance are available to help them become pet-friendly.

Another common concern is logistics. Shelter leaders often worry about space constraints, costs, potential allergies, sanitation or how to safely house animals alongside residents. Those are very real considerations, especially for organizations already operating with limited resources.

Through the Purple Leash Project, we work to address those concerns by providing grant funding alongside resources and guidance from our nonprofit partner, RedRover, to help shelters navigate the process of becoming pet-friendly.

We have also seen that sharing success stories from shelters that have already made the transition can be incredibly powerful. When organizations see how others have successfully integrated pets into their facilities and how meaningful that support is for survivors, it helps build confidence and momentum across the network.

How important is public awareness (beyond shelter infrastructure) in changing attitudes toward domestic violence survivors with pets?

Dr. Lobos: Awareness is a vital part of creating meaningful change in the domestic violence landscape. While expanding pet-friendly shelter options is critical, it is only part of the solution. Many people still do not realize that nearly half of domestic violence survivors delay leaving an abusive situation because they cannot take their pets with them. Bringing greater visibility to that reality helps communities better understand the barriers survivors face and why solutions like pet-friendly shelters are so important.

Public awareness also helps reduce the stigma and isolation that many survivors experience. By encouraging open conversation, we can help survivors feel seen and supported while also inspiring communities, organizations and individuals to get involved in solutions.

That is why the Purple Leash Project focuses not only on funding shelter renovations, but also on education and storytelling that elevate survivor voices, highlight the human-animal bond, and show how keeping pets and people together can be a powerful part of the healing journey.

Have notable advocates or ambassadors (like artists, celebrities or survivors) played a role in spreading the message?

Dr. Lobos: We’ve partnered with several notable advocates to shine a light on and help reduce the stigma around being a domestic violence survivor. We’ve teamed up with actress, producer, advocate and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, Mariska Hargitay, for several years now. She’s helped to spread the word about the Purple Leash Project and was part of the New York unveiling of “Courageous Together,” a sculpture Purina commissioned from renowned “Fearless Girl” artist Kristen Visbal depicting a woman and her dog, connected by a purple leash and taking a courageous first step forward, together, as survivors leaving their abuser — created to bring awareness to this important cause.

We’ve also honored actor, advocate and survivor Sarah Hyland with the first-ever Variety Courage Award presented by Purina at the annual Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles in 2024. This recognition underscored both her personal journey and her commitment to raising visibility for survivors who face the painful choice of leaving a pet behind. That partnership inspired us to work with Sarah again to create the Courageous Together Collection, which launched in September of last year, with the intention of inspiring courage, sparking conversations and reducing the stigma that too often surrounds domestic abuse. Available exclusively on the Purple Leash Project’s website, the collection featured items for pets and people, including necklaces, and bag charms designed in partnership with cause-focused jewelry brand Coastal Caviar. One hundred percent of every purchase from the collection is a donation to RedRover in support of the Purple Leash Project, directly funding shelter improvements so survivors and pets can escape — and heal — together.

And last year we sponsored Variety’s Power of Women Los Angeles event again and presented the second Variety Courage Award to World Champion gymnast and activist Aly Raisman for her advocacy on behalf of abuse survivors, generating national visibility for the issue.

What’s in store for the future of the Purple Leash Project?

Dr. Lobos: Looking ahead, one of our main focuses for the Purple Leash Project is continuing to grow public awareness and engagement around the issue. While we have made meaningful progress in expanding pet-friendly shelter options, many people are still surprised to learn that survivors may delay leaving an abusive situation because they cannot bring their pets with them. The more we can bring that reality into the public conversation, the more momentum we can build behind solutions while also reducing the stigma many survivors face.

We are also constantly hearing from people who want to know how they can help. Finding more ways to channel that interest into action is an exciting opportunity for us, whether that is through consumer campaigns, fundraising efforts, or programs that help individuals advocate for pet-friendly shelters in their own communities.

Ultimately, continued awareness and engagement will be key to driving progress. When more people understand the role pets play in the lives of survivors and the barriers they can face, it helps inspire the support needed to expand pet-friendly options and ensure survivors never have to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pets.

Photo Credit:

istockphoto.com/Gajus