*Pickles and *Taffy

When *Alicia and her children had to leave their home, she feared they would have no choice but to give their beloved cats, *Pickles and *Taffy, away. Escaping violence is overwhelming, and leaving pets behind can feel impossible. Pickles and Taffy weren’t just pets—they were a source of comfort, stability, and love for Alicia’s children.

“Pickles has always been a quiet support for my son. He talks to him when he won’t talk to anyone else. And Taffy… she’s been my daughter’s little cheerleader, helping her be confident and express herself. Losing them would have been devastating for all of us.” – Alicia

The thought of surrendering them weighed heavily on the family. “I couldn’t bear telling the kids we had to give them away. The look in their eyes… it was like the light went out for a moment. They weren’t just cats—they were part of our family.”

Pet Refuge’s nationwide transport service was a lifeline for families escaping violence. No matter where they are in Aotearoa, pets can be safely collected and brought into care, removing one of the biggest barriers to leaving an unsafe home. For families forced to choose between their own safety and keeping their pets, transport makes it possible to leave together. For Pickles and Taffy, safe transport was the crucial first step in protecting the whole family.

“Knowing they were being taken care of from the moment they left our home gave me a huge sense of relief. I could focus on keeping my children safe, knowing our cats were in expert hands.”

Once Pickles and Taffy arrived at Pet Refuge, our expert team provided everything they needed—safe spaces to relax, enrichment to reduce stress, and attentive handling from staff trained to help pets recover from trauma.

But the journey wasn’t over. When Alicia and her children were ready to move into their new, safe home hundreds of kilometres away, getting their cats there safely could have been another stressful challenge. That’s where Pet Refuge’s national transport service makes all the difference.

Our transport service ensures pets can travel safely across the country to reunite with their families—no matter the distance. Families don’t have to cover transport costs or worry about logistics. From pick-up to the first cuddle with their loving family, every step is carefully managed by our expert team, giving pets a smooth, stress-free journey and families peace of mind.

After four months apart, Pickles and Taffy could finally join Alicia and her children in their new home without added worry or cost.

“Seeing them healthy, happy, and loved after everything we’d been through was such a relief. I couldn’t imagine doing this without Pet Refuge. They made it possible for our family to stay together, even after moving across the country.” – Alicia

Thanks to Pet Refuge’s national transport service and onsite care, distance is never a barrier to keeping families together.