Hi my name's Julie Chapman and this is the Insider's Guide to Pet Refuge. Pet Refuge is an organisation that provides temporary safety and shelter for pets affected by family violence from all over New Zealand. Any kind of pet, right from goldfish up to large farm animals, horses, cows, etc.
There's been a few memorable pets that have come through the shelter. One in particular was a one-legged duck that liked to talk a lot. But in general, it's your cats and dogs, your small animals like rabbits that we see most often.
So we know that 53% of women delay leaving family violence out of fear for their family pet, their safety, their lives. We also know that 24% of women have a pet killed as part of family violence, if that is present. Pets are family and so I think what happens is often people who are, I guess, perpetrating the abuse will target the pet on purpose because they know that it's really going to hit their family members or loved ones in the hardest place.
And so that is why Pet Refuge exists to make sure that we can get those pets to safety while people are seeking their own safety. The safety of the pets in our care and our team is paramount to us and so that's why the location of the shelter is kept confidential. We make sure that we don't take pictures of pets and use them on our website or anywhere like that without express permission from people.
We have some amazing caseworkers who liaise directly with family members of those pets and every week they get updates, they get phone calls, little videos so that they can see how their pet's doing and I guess the facility itself is kind of like a luxury home away from home for the pet and our goal at Pet Refuge is to make sure the pet is well cared for and returns, I guess, physically in better shape and also mentally as well when they go home. When pets come into our care they're able to stay for up to four months and we know that that is about the length of time that people stay in emergency housing or women's refuge and so it's really important that we can match that and give people that time to be able to secure pet-friendly housing. There's nothing we can't do, we've got contacts all over New Zealand to be able to get pets to safety just to give people that peace of mind.
At Pet Refuge we cover all costs for pets while they're in our care so our clients don't have to worry about any of that, we take care of all of that and make sure pets get the very best care. People who need our help can contact us directly, we have an 0800 number that people can call or they can do that through our website. So generally what happens if it's a referral agency they will ring and tell us that they have somebody that has either left violence or is wanting to leave violence and they have a pet in the mix so we'll take some details of where that pet's located, what their needs are, any potential medical issues or treatment that might be needed.
We'll then get in contact with the client directly and make a plan to be able to get that pet to safety and I guess you know our goal is to make that transition as easy as possible so that we remove that stress from people when they're going through a high stress time. Our whole belief at Pet Refuge is that nobody should have to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pets and that's why we created this organisation so that when people are wanting to leave violence they can leave with their pet knowing that they're going to be safe and that they're going to be reunited once they have started their own journey towards healing.
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Description
This video provides a guide to who Pet Refuge are and what they do. Pet Refuge is a charity organisation who provide temporary shelter and care for pets while their owners escape family violence. The service is free and available nationwide – while the shelter is based in Auckland, they are able to help pets based anywhere in the country. This includes transport from anywhere in New Zealand, safe accommodation, food, exercise, enrichment and veterinary care. All pets receive a health check on arrival, and Pet Refuge cover veterinary costs during their stay, including vaccinations, desexing and any treatment they may require.
In 2003 Simonne Butler survived a horrific attack at the hands of her abusive partner. The attack shocked New Zealand and the story made national headlines. But much of the coverage focused on the perpetrator and not Simonne, the victim.
Now, after years of physical, emotional and spiritual recovery Simonne is embarking on a journey to find hope and inspiration in stories that domestic abuse survivors share with her.
In this introductory episode, Simonne shares her story and insights on how to survive domestic abuse, what she has learnt, and what people need to know about to curb our shocking domestic abuse statistics.
Parental Guidance Recommended for Younger Viewers.
Pet Refuge is New Zealand's only charity dedicated to providing temporary shelter and care for pets while their owners escape family violence.
We exist because concern for a pet can be a significant barrier to leaving an abusive situation. Research from Women's Refuge found that 53% of women have delayed leaving family violence because they were worried about what would happen to their pet.
By providing a safe place for pets while their owners find safety, Pet Refuge helps remove one of the barriers that can prevent someone from leaving violence.
Pet Refuge is a nationwide service available to people who are leaving, or have recently left, family violence.
While our purpose-built shelter is based in Auckland, we transport pets from across New Zealand to provide safe, temporary accommodation while their families find safety.
People can contact us directly to enquire about our services, or they may be referred by a family violence service, advocate, social worker or another support agency.
Pet Refuge cares for all types of companion animals. While most of the pets in our care are dogs and cats, we have also cared for rabbits, birds, horses, livestock and fish.
Our dedicated case management team works with individuals and support agencies to confirm eligibility and develop a safe plan for the pet, including arranging transport to our secure shelter.
While pets are in our care, owners receive regular updates, photos and videos so they know their pet is safe and well. Once the family has secured pet-friendly accommodation, we arrange for the pet to be transported to their new home for a safe reunion.
Every pet receives comprehensive care at no cost to their owner.
This includes transport from anywhere in New Zealand, safe accommodation, food, exercise, enrichment and veterinary care. All pets receive a health check on arrival, and we cover veterinary costs during their stay, including vaccinations, desexing and any treatment they may require.
Safety is at the heart of everything we do.
Our shelter operates from a secure, undisclosed location, and protecting the privacy of our clients is a key priority. We do not share information about the pets in our care and take additional precautions where needed to ensure the safety of both pets and their owners.
Pets can stay at Pet Refuge for up to four months.
This gives families time to find safe, pet-friendly accommodation while knowing their pet is being cared for in a secure and supportive environment.
No. There is no cost for families accessing Pet Refuge's services. All accommodation, transport and veterinary care provided during a pet's stay is fully funded by Pet Refuge.
