About the Purple Leash Project
The Purple Leash Project was born out of Purina’s mission to bring and keep pets and people together and RedRover’s® mission to bring animals and their owners from crisis to care.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetimes.
Only 19 percent of domestic violence shelters accept pets.
48 percent of domestic abuse survivors delay leaving because they can't take their pets with them.
Over 70 percent of women in domestic violence shelters report their abuser threatened, injured or killed a pet as a means of control.
The Journey to the Purple Leash Project
Nearly a decade ago, a Purina associate read about the difficult decision many abuse survivors with pets are forced to make: stay with an abuser or leave a beloved pet behind. It seemed unfair that pets, who may be the only source of unconditional love and support for a survivor, weren’t considered. So, we decided to help.
Since then, Purina helped one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the U.S. to become a leading voice and shining example of pet-friendly sheltering. We also helped create the PAWS Act Coalition in support of the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which helps domestic abuse survivors and their pets by advocating for federal resources.
Today, our goal is to help ensure at least 25 percent of U.S. domestic violence shelters offer pet-friendly services by the end of 2025. We’ve already provided grants totaling $1.5 million to 52 shelters across the country, and nearly every state has at least one pet-friendly shelter, but our long-term goal is to fundamentally change the landscape of domestic abuse services for survivors with pets, so no survivor has to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet.
The Purple Leash Symbol
The purple leash serves as a symbol of the invisible struggle domestic abuse survivors and their pets face. Purple represents domestic violence awareness, and the leash symbolizes the unbreakable bond between pets and their people.
Partnership with RedRover
RedRover has done amazing work over the last 16 years to change how domestic violence shelters and service providers serve domestic abuse survivors and their pets.
The Color Purple & Domestic Violence Awareness
The color purple represents domestic violence awareness. During October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a purple ribbon is used to show symbolic support of domestic abuse survivors.