Welcome to Pet Refuge

The Pet Refuge shelter is a purpose-designed building providing temporary shelter and security for pets in family violence situations, with the end goal of reuniting each of them with their owners so they can start new lives together in violence-free homes.

The shelter houses dogs, cats, birds, and other small pets and has been designed to give animals comfort and security. There are no wire cages, the enclosures have underfloor heating, and are specially designed to give a space to sleep, play and feel secure. There are play areas with climbing structures, an obstacle course and beds for lounging in the sun.

We were lucky to have consulted with the team from RSPCA New South Wales to help with the development of our Safe Beds for Pets™ programme. RSPCA NSW has been running their own Domestic Violence programme for over 15 years, offering practical solutions for pet owners seeking refuge from abuse.

Pet Refuge works with NZ Police, Women’s Refuge, Shine, Family Action and other domestic violence agencies to assist pets via referrals and also take self-referrals. We transport pets from around New Zealand to provide a national service for families affected by domestic violence. The location of the shelter is kept confidential to protect the safety of the pets, women and children assisted by Pet Refuge.

Larger animals including horses, cows, sheep, goats are cared for via a network of regional safe farms.
The Pet Refuge shelter is a safe place for families to send their much-loved pets, enabling them to leave family violence behind. We change the lives of many people and animals in need.