Pet Refuge is a first of its kind charitable trust in Aotearoa – and an extremely worthwhile one – established to take in pets of people seeking to escape domestic abuse.
New Zealand has among the worst rates of domestic violence in the developed world, and among the highest rates of pet ownership – often those statistics overlap with heartbreaking consequences.
Research by Women’s Refuge found that 22% of children had witnessed pet abuse; nearly a quarter of family violence victims had a pet killed by a partner; and more than half of women delay leaving out of fear for the safety of their pets. Women like Meg (“My abuse was mostly mental… he’d lash out at the dog, and Jem would whimper”), Sally (“I’m not your stereotypical victim of domestic abuse. I’m white. I’m well off. But abuse doesn’t discriminate… if I leave the pets… will he kill them like he’s threatened to?”), and Phoebe (“Finding a rental with an animal as really hard. If I did leave, I just kept going back to the dog, and this really toxic relationship”).
According to Women’s Refuge, nearly three quarters of women would have found it easier to leave if there was a shelter offering temporary accommodation for their pets. And that was the genesis for Pet Refuge, New Zealand’s first shelter dedicated to temporarily housing pets affected by domestic violence whose end goal is reuniting the animals with their families.
“For victims of family violence, it’s an even deeper bond, because animals can be their only source of comfort.”
The charity was founded by Julie Chapman (who’s also co-founder and CEO of child poverty charitable trust, KidsCanNZ), after hearing about the Women’s Refuge stories from an old colleague. Having lost both her parents in the past few years, Julie used the money left to her from the sale of their home to buy land to build Pet Refuge, an idea she’d discussed with her dad before his passing. Julie says that her parents were “always the first to put their hand up to help anyone in need in their community”.
After four years of planning and toil, Pet Refuge opened its doors in 2021, thanks in part to the Trillian Trust, the Lindsay Foundation and build and design partner Signature Homes, along with many a kind donation from the public. Pet Refuge also partners with Women’s Refuge and domestic abuse charity Shine and has had guidance from the RSPCA in New South Wales which has been running a similar scheme for more than 15 years.
“When you’re constantly told you’re worthless, when your self-esteem is at rock bottom, you cling onto your cat or dog,” says Julie, who began rescuing injured birds as a child, and now continues to adopt cats with health issues. She’s also been on the receiving end of an abusive relationship. “For victims of family violence, it’s an even deeper bond, because animals can be their only source of comfort.”
Since opening, the ‘safe haven’ of Pet Refuge has cared for around 200 animals and plans to open more centres. There are no wire cages, but there is underfloor heating and designated areas for sleep and play to ensure that all dogs, cats, and other small pets feel safe and secure. For larger creatures like cows, goats and horses, the charity works with a nationwide safe farms network.
Julie says that the dream is to ensure that women, men, children, and their pets can break free from domestic violence and start new lives together: “That’s what success looks like.”
Help Build Trust
Any one-off donation is much appreciated, while a monthly $25 donation helps cover costs of the likes of bedding, heating, transport, vet healthcare, and expert animal carers and workers. Other ways to contribute include via fundraising events and initiatives or by making a bequest in your will.
Find out details at petrefuge.org.nz.
Pet Refuge Helpline: 0800 738 733 843
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 111.
Other places to get help include:
Women’s Refuge: 0800 733 843
Shine: 0508 744 633
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342
