Nathaniel Fields, CEO and president of URI (center) with Purina veterinarian Dr. Kurt Venator (next to Mr. Fields on the right) and local dignitaries celebrate the opening of the Purina Pet Haven and Dog Park in NYC
Urban Resource Institute (URI) and Nestlé Purina PetCare (Purina) hosted a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to celebrate Manhattan’s first-ever dog park in a domestic violence shelter. The new dog park is located at Urban Women’s Retreat (UWR), a Tier I emergency shelter that is part of the URIPALS (People and Animals Living Safely) program.
URIPALS is the only program in New York City and one of the few nationally that allows survivors of domestic violence to live in shelter with their pets. It’s not just about dogs and a dog park. To date, URIPALS has helped 43 families with 63 pets, including 38 cats, 18 dogs, and a range of smaller animals, such as reptiles and fish, escape domestic violence.
Sponsored by Purina, which funded the design and construction of the dog park, the Purina Pet Haven will provide survivors of domestic violence and their families (including pets) with a safe and calming retreat in which to heal together while in the shelter. The opening of the new dog park builds upon Purina’s previous support of the PALS program.
“Through the URIPALS program we have witnessed first-hand how important it is for survivors to have their beloved pets by their side while they heal,” said Nathaniel Fields, President and CEO of URI. “From early on in the URIPALS program, Purina has been committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence and their pets. We know that the new dog park will play an integral part in helping our clients heal, and for that we are extremely grateful to Purina.”
It’s estimated that nearly half of women remain in domestic violence situations because they are afraid of leaving their pets behind, but domestic violence shelters rarely permit pets. Purina has taken the lead in helping open up shelters that include pets, a game-changer in the world of domestic violence.
Last year at Purina’s Better with Pets Summit, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as a battered woman described her horrific domestic situation, and her need to stay in the situation for fear her small dog would be tortured or murdered if she left. Lucky for her, she found the Urban Resource Institute, and she successfully escaped there with her dog in tow.
Like many battered women, she had a very low income, but with the support provided by the shelter for her and her dog, she was able to get a good job and eventually move out of the shelter on her own.
“For most pet owners, the bond with their pet is incredibly strong, and for people in abusive relationships their pet can be an important source of comfort,” said Dr. Kurt Venator, Purina veterinarian. “Purina is very proud to support the Urban Resource Institute in its efforts to keep families and their pets together during this time of healing.”
Many battered women are isolated from friends and family, and for them, a pet may seem like the only one in the world who loves them. Opening up shelters to include pets WILL get women out of abusive situations and into programs that can help them get their lives back.
As part of its support for the URIPALS program, Purina is also donating Purina ONE brand dog food, Purina Cat Chow brand cat food, along with other dog treats and cat litter. In addition, Purina is working with URI to provide supplies for welcome kits for families bringing pets to the Urban Women’s Retreat center, including pet travel carriers, safety gates, pet beds, pet feeding and watering bowls, cat scratching posts, leashes and pet toys.
To learn more about URIPALS and for tips on keeping the entire family safe in domestic violence situations, please visit www.urinyc.org.
THE FINE PRINT: This post was sponsored by Purina. Mousebreath was delighted to partner with Purina to spread the word about the need to include pets in battered women’s shelters. Because life is #betterwithpets.
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