Cruelty to animals is common in domestic violence. People who use violence will often threaten, injure and even kill a pet to control family members. Fear for their beloved pet's safety is one reason people, usually women, delay leaving their abuser. Most can't take their pets with them when seeking refuge and fear they will be harmed or killed if they're left behind. 2018 Women's Refuge research of women whose partners had abused or threatened to abuse their pets found: 23% had an animal killed by their partner 53% delayed leaving family violence out of fear for their pet's safety 73% would have found it easier to leave if there was a shelter offering temporary accommodation for their pets. Pet Refuge will build New Zealand's first shelter solely dedicated to housing pets affected by family violence, because we know that not having a safe place for them to stay is a major barrier to women leaving violence. The Pet Refuge shelter is a purpose-designed building to provide temporary care 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.