Pet refuge hits goal
In just seven days more than $250,000 has been raised to set up NZ’s first shelter for animals affected by domestic violence. A $250,000 PledgeMe target was set last week when details of the planned Pet Refuge were released in the Herald. Last night that target was surpassed, standing at $252,954.
And a further $25,000 is yet to come from a dollar-for-dollar match promise by a pet supply company.
Pet Refuge will be built in the Auckland area to house animals until their owners can leave their abusers and resettle in violence-free homes.
Cats, dogs and other small pets will be cared for on site and larger animals like horses will be kept at one of a network of safe farms.
The initiative is the brainchild of KidsCan founder Julie Chapman.
“We did it, it’s amazing,” said Chapman soon after the target was reached. “It’s incredible . . . I’m pretty much speechless.”
Plans for the shelter were announced the same day a new Women’s Refuge study showed
hundreds of Kiwi victims delay leaving abusers every year because they fear for their pets’ safety.
Many have been threatened that their animal will be harmed or killed — or forced to watch those things happen, often with their children.
Chapman, who once experienced an abusive relationship, said it was important to remove barriers and enable victims to leave.
Creating the shelter removed a very real barrier for victims scared or worried about their animals.
Chapman and her family bought the land for the facility and the Lindsay Foundation has stepped in to help fund the building. But $250,000 was needed for the fit-out — beds, enclosures, play areas, toys and medical supplies for the animals. A PledgeMe page was set up.
In the first week — after details of Pet Refuge were revealed in a threeday Herald series — donations poured in and reached more than $120,000.
Last week animal supply company PetStock offered to match donations from yesterday dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000. The aim was to raise $50,000 in a day.
At 5am yesterday the PledgeMe page total was $139,197. By 2.30pm the $25,000 target had been reached and was to be matched by PetStock.
By 4.40pm the total had hit $192,000 after an anonymous $20,000 donation.
And just before 6pm the total surged to more than $253,100 after a $60,000 single donation.
When the money from PetStock is added — it was yet to be donated last night — the total will pass $278,100.
Chapman said the generosity shown was much appreciated.
All extra funds will be used to care for the animals once the shelter is up and running. It is expected to be opened in April next year.
NZ has the worst reported rate of domestic violence in the developed world and Women’s Refuge research found animals are routinely beaten, tortured, threatened and killed by abusers in a bid to exert dominance.