When survivors of domestic violence prepare to flee an abusive home, they’re often forced to leave something behind. For nearly half, research shows, it’s a pet.
This month, YWCA Greater Cincinnati will become the first domestic violence shelter in the region to welcome survivors and their animals – a shift that leaders say reflects the powerful role pets play in trauma recovery and safety planning.
From July 14-18, teams from RedRover, Greater Good Charities and Purina’s Purple Leash Project will join YWCA staff and volunteers to renovate a section of the shelter into a pet-friendly living space. The redesign includes six private rooms with animal-focused features, a fenced yard with play equipment, a grooming station and other amenities to support both human and animal well-being.
The described “co-living environment” will feature pet enrichment equipment, cat-friendly areas, hallway mirrors to reduce animal collisions, nighttime lighting for safe outdoor walks and gravel-lined “relief stations” that allow for easy cleanup. There will also be a wash station where residents can take care of their pets at no cost…