Advocates said lacking on-site pet accommodations can be a deterrent to seeking help at domestic violence shelters. There’s a nationwide push to address the issue.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Editor’s Note: This story discusses domestic violence and animal abuse, which may triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
North Carolina groups supporting people leaving domestic violence situations report a rising need, while federal funding they rely on is decreasing.
All the while, there is a quieter fight in background: A push by some advocates to make sure more safe shelters are equipped to handle every family member escaping a dangerous environment, including pets.
At Safelight’s shelter in Hendersonville, just outside Asheville, the setup says “welcome” to both people and pets. About a two-hour drive from Charlotte, Safelight is one of the closest shelters to Charlotte where a person can bring their pet while escaping a dangerous situation.
“It took a lot of partners to the table to make this addition in our facility,” Safelight’s Executive Director Lauren Wilkie said. “It was a $100,000 project to retrofit our building to add it. We knew it was necessary, as we were having calls to our 24/7 hotline of folks who were deciding not to come here and flee violence because in many cases, their only last loving family member was not going to be able to come with them, their dog or cat.”
The investment into dog and cat kennels has been well worth it, Safelight’s Dana Despradel explained, as the installation more than a year ago has already saved dozens of lives, both human and animal.
“That first dog that landed in our space, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place,” Despradel said.
Pet owners who come to Safelight also receive food and supplies, courtesy of Blue Ridge Humane Society.
“In most cases of abuse and violence, we see the pet to be the first attacked in a family,” Wilkie said. “So for us, it’s making sure that every member of that family is able to flee that violent or abusive situation.”
“We’ve had folks that did unfortunately have to abandon their pets, um, you know, because it was such a severe and urgent situation,” Despradel added.
According to Purina’s Purple Leash Project, around one in five domestic violence shelters are equipped to allow people to have their pets with them while they try to start new chapters.
“About 50% of them will delay leaving their abuser if they don’t have a place to go that will also allow their pets,” Lorie Westhoff, Senior Communications Director for Purina, said.
Advocates, including people with Purina’s Purple Leash Project, are trying bump that number to one in four by the end of this year, with hopes of further growth in years to follow.
The Purple Leash Project says so far, it has given out $1.5 million in grants to 52 shelters across the nation, including Safelight.
“We’re advocating for federal funding for domestic violence shelters to become pet friendly,” Westhoff said. “There’s a lot of work that’s going into this because it truly just supports our belief that pets are extensions of our family and they deserve to be protected.”
If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence, help is readily available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Resources for help are available in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
WCNC Charlotte anchor Vanessa Ruffes explores the ties between animal cruelty and domestic violence, with additional interviews and extended conversations with Safelight and Purina’s Purple Leash Project, in a one-hour special on streaming app WCNC+. Find it on demand under the “Shows” section.
Contact Vanessa Ruffes at vruffes@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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