“Don’t forget the pet.”
That’s the message as the "Paws for a good cause" return for another walk in the park in Gardner.
The second annual Purple Paws Walk, which is aimed at raising awareness about keeping household pets safe from domestic abuse situations, will take place at Pulaski Dog Park on Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Residents are urged to attend the free event with their canine companions.
The Purple Paws Pet Program, a collaboration between the Gardner Domestic Violence Task Force, Voices of Truth, and animal shelters across Greater Gardner, is aimed at finding temporary foster shelters for domestic pets that are left behind when their owners are forced to leave home to escape a toxic relationship.
Bernice Richard, president of Voices of Truth and coordinator of the Gardner Domestic Violence Task Force, said last year’s event, which was organized partly to raise money for the fosters who temporarily take in pets and keep them while they wait to be reunited with their owners, raised about $4,000.
“The support is absolutely amazing,” Richard said. “One of the things we’ve been hearing as we’ve gone around getting vendors and sponsors for the walk is that many people never even considered what happens to the pets in these situations. It’s such an emotional eye-opener, especially if you’re a pet owner yourself.”
April is Pet Abuse Awareness Month
The event will begin with Mayor Michael Nicholson reading a proclamation stating that April will officially be known as Pet Abuse Awareness Month in Gardner, according to Richard.
“The event is not just about raising money, it’s also about raising awareness,” Richard said.
The success of last year’s walk was evident by the increased donations from returning sponsors, and the number of new businesses that signed up to take part in this year’s event, Richard said. Sponsors for this year’s walk, which will include raffle prizes from local businesses, include GFA, Gardner Auto Mart, Empire Management, Parker House of Pizza, Four Season Chinese Cuisine, and Anne’s Bridal and Tux.
“We’ve got gift cards galore,” Richard said. “It’s mind-blowing how the sponsors are coming onboard. The message is really getting out.”
Pets the 'forgotten victims' of domestic violence
It’s a sad fact that pets are often the target of abuse during domestic violence situations, according to Richard. The Purple Paws Pet Program, which was established two years ago, is dedicated to persuading victims of toxic relationships, who are often hesitant to leave their dog or cat behind, that their pets will be kept safe in an undisclosed location until the animals are reunited with their owners.
“The stories we’ve been hearing are horrific. The victims have some very sad stories, but we’re not forgetting these pets,” Richard said. “About 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abusers also targeted their pets.”
The program recently began collaborating with BestyBNB, a national organization dedicated to securing safe, temporary homes for pets during their owners’ times of crisis, Richard said.
“They do all the work, they do all the paperwork, they do all the monitoring, and all we need to do is find people willing to be fosters,” Richard said.
The rain or shine event, at 2 Charbonneau St., will feature live music, pet-related vendors, resource tables, a police K9 and bloodhound demonstration, and a pet costume parade.
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