Urban Resource Institute (URI) and Nestlé Purina PetCare hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate New York City's first-ever dog park in a domestic violence shelter, called the Purina Play Haven and Dog Park. The event marks the official expansion of URIPALS-People and Animals Living Safely-which launched in June 2013 as a pilot program to enable domestic violence survivors to enter shelter with their cats and other small animals. With the opening of the Purina Play Haven and Dog Park, URI will now be able to open its doors to families with dogs.
Sponsored by Purina, which contributed funds for the design and construction of the dog park, the Purina Play Haven and Dog Park will give families at URI's largest emergency shelter in New York City a safe and calming retreat in which to heal together. The unique dog park features a ramp, tunnel, bridge and platform for dogs to play and exercise, as well as overhead trellises to ensure the privacy and security of shelter residents.
"At Purina we share the belief that when pets and people are together, life is truly better," said Lindsey Hogan, brand manager for the Purina brand. "We're very proud to support the Urban Resource Institute and its PALS program, which is helping to keep families and pets together during difficult times."
Studies show that as many as 48% of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations out of fear of what would happen if they left their pets behind, and more than 70% of pet owners who enter shelter report that the abuser has threatened, injured, or killed family pets. Among New York City's 50 domestic violence shelters, URI is the only one that accommodates pets.
