Pet Refuge New Zealand Charitable Trust

Pet Refuge will build New Zealand's first shelter solely dedicated to housing pets affected by family violence, because we know that not having a safe place for them to stay is a major barrier to women leaving violence.

The Pet Refuge shelter is a purpose-designed building to provide temporary care and security for pets in family violence situations, with the end goal of reuniting each of them with their owners so they can start new lives together in violence-free homes.

Pet Refuge has partnered with Women's Refuge to assist pets via referrals. We will transport pets from around New Zealand to our Auckland shelter so we can provide a national service for families affected by domestic violence. Each year, the shelter will house up to 500 pets including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.

Founder Julie Chapman, says "For many people, pets are family. For victims of domestic violence, they provide real solace. Leaving them behind with an abusive partner just isn't an option. We hope that if victims know their pets will well looked after while they escape, it will remove a barrier to them leaving."